THE ORCHID REVIEW. 147 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR MAY. 
By H. A. BURBERRY, Orchid Specialist, King’s Heath, Birmingham. 
WiTH the growing season now fully upon-us, it is important not to leave 
anything undone that will contribute to free and healthy growth. The 
warm growing kinds must have sufficient heat-and moisture afforded to 
ensure a steady progress. They naturally require a good amount, but they 
can have too much. Do not, therefore, try to expedite matters at an 
express rate by continually maintaining a high degree of temperature quite 
independent of the weather. Work hand in hand with the weather 
prevailing, letting things jog along quietly and uninterruptedly when the 
Jatter is inclement, but when favourable turn it to the best account. 
The following figures are given as a guide to the summer temperatures :— 
~ East INpiAN House.—Day, without sun, 70° to 75°; with sun it may 
rise to go° or even higher. Night 65° to 70° ; and it may fall as low as 60° 
by the morning, doing no harm if only for a short period. 
CATTLEYA OR INTERMEDIATE HousE.—Day, without sun, 65° to 70°; 
with sun 70° to 85°, or even higher if the weather is very warm. 
Coot House.—This should now be kept as cool as it is possible to keep 
it, both day and night. 
FIRE HEAT.—Happily, for the next few months the need for this will 
not be great. The Cool department should have none. The Intermediate 
houses will require it occasionally only, principally during cool, sunless days 
and cool nights, when a little may still be advantageous. The same, of 
course, must be said regarding the Warmest Houses. Whenever it is 
required, be very careful that enough only is employed—not too much— 
remembering that it is always harmful when it can be done without, and 
that Orchids never do so well as when it is entirely absent. 
SHADING.—This must now be strictly attended to, or cases of scalding 
will very quickly ensue. Excepting for the few species which are known to 
prefer the bright light—and some were mentioned last month—I preter to 
shade rather heavily. Russian garden mats are not any too thick, and make 
a lovely subdued light. They should, of course, be removed in dull weather 
and at night. It is acapital plan during exceptionally scorching days to 
use these mats as an additional shading to the ordinary roller blinds for the 
majority of Orchids, and more particularly so for the inmates of the Cool 
houses. For the midsummer months a good plan is to have painted on 
the glass athin permanent shading of summer cloud or whitewash, in 
addition to the roller blinds. It prevents many mishaps, and is at the 
same time greatly appreciated by the plants. There is no necessity then 
for continually lowering and raising the blinds in choppy weather. The 
sun, too, has sometimes an awkward habit of popping out just when not 
