THE ORCHID REVIEW. 245 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR AUGUST. 
By H. A. BURBERRY, Orchid Specialist, King’s Heath, Birmingham. 
Owrnc to the excessive heat we have passed through since thelast Calendar 
was written, the Warm and Intermediate class of Orchids have grown apace, 
and are now but little if any behind their usual condition for the time of year, 
in spite of the previous cold and comparatively sunless weather. On the 
other hand, with the Cool House Odontoglossums the reverse is the case, 
the cool weather suiting them to a nicety, but now they are showing signs 
that the late great heat was a little too much for them. It was, indeed, 
quite impossible to keep the temperature cool enough for them just then, 
though no permanent injury can result during these short periods of heat if 
the house is kept as cool as it can be by the aid of extra thick shading. 
Old boards are good for placing on the roof during the hottest time of the 
day, keeping the glass very much cooler than would otherwise be the case. 
It is during the extreme heat that the lath roller blinds have, I think, a 
distinct advantage over the net-work shading, more especially if raised six 
inches or more from the glass, being then much cooler. 
The Dendrobiums should naw again be looked over, and all having 
completed their new pseudobulbs removed to another department to mature 
them. Many other species of Orchid will also soon have their new growths 
fully made up, and should either receive similar treatment to the Dendrobes 
or have suitable positions selected for them in their respective departments. 
The summer blooming Cattleyas are amongst these, also Lelia majalis, 
Catasetum, Mormodes, and Cycnoches, and possibly a few isolated cases of 
various genera. On the other hand a large number of species are only just 
commencing to push forth new growth. Such it is unnecessary to say should 
have every encouragement given them to grow. Thus it will be seen that 
this is a season of a good deal of changing of places or transferring to other 
houses—little matters perhaps, but very important nevertheless, for every- 
thing appertaining to successful flowering depends in the first place on the 
size of the pseudobulb, and, secondly, on the maturing of the same. In the 
latter process, however, see that it is of a gradual character, and that 
extremes are avoided. 
During this the growing season of the majority of Orchids it is indis- 
pensable that a good supply of moisture be maintained, atmospherically and 
also at the roots of the plants. This I have always recommended, but I 
may here add a word of caution against applying too much to the latter, 
for it is quite possible to do so. The safest plan is to let the compost get fairly 
dry before watering it. The roots keep healthier, because the compost keeps 
sweeter, consequently the tissue or fibre of the plant is more firmly built, 
and much less liable to disease in its various forms. The above applies to 
