THE ORCHID REVIEW. 307 
class of Orchid the whole year round is the safest and best course. Flower 
spikes will now gradually begin to appear on the most forward to mature 
their bulbs, but this fact need Make no difference whatever to their treat- 
ment. The spikes will move slowly but surely, and are better if not in 
bloom until the new year. Do not let weakly or undersized pseudobulbs 
bloom, small spikes are nothing to look at, but are tremendous obstacles in 
the way of plants ever becoming strong. Damp down once or twice daily 
according to the amount of fire heat necessary. If no fire, no damping. 
INTERMEDIATE, MEXICAN, of CATTLEYA Housres:—Day, 65° to 70°, 
night, 65°, morning, 60°. 
East Inp1an House or STOVE :—Day, 75°, night, 70°, morning, 65°. 
Regarding damping and the ventilation of the above departments a few 
words may here be said. Probably there is no other month throughout the 
year when less water is required for damping-down purposes. This arises 
from the following reasons. First, the great majority of plants have now 
completed their growth and others are fast approaching that state, they 
therefore require, not only less water direct, but a much less humid atmos- 
phere. Others, too, having no apparent Season of rest require less moisture, 
so that the new growth is somewhat hardened before the rigours of winter 
set in. Secondly, to secure the above desirable conditions of hardening a 
good deal of fresh air should be admitted. This outside air is at this season 
quite naturally pretty heavily charged with moisture, and therefore does not 
absorb the same from the interior of the house which certainly it does 
during the hot summer months. And, thirdly, only a small amount of 
artificial heat in the pipes is yet necessary, so that the atmosphere within 
cannot possibly become unduly dry or impoverished, like it can, for instance, 
during the winter, in times of severe frosts, or in summer, in hot, dry 
weather. It will therefore be seen that not nearly so much damping is now 
necessary as in either of the above instances; it may be required once a day 
or not at all, and the weather must be the sole guide. 
CALANTHES.—The deciduous Calanthes will now be pushing their flower 
spikes to bloom during the mid-winter Months. There are a good many 
hybrids of these now in cultivation, varying more or less in depth of colour 
and time of flowering. C. x Veitchii still holds its own, and upon this we 
still rely for the backbone of the great floral display given by the genus in 
due season. Great numbers of this beautiful hybrid from C. rosea and C. 
vestita rubro-oculata have beeM raised since the late Mr. Dominy first 
reared this deservedly famous cross, and naturally some varieties are of a 
higher standard than others. Many secondary hybrids have also been 
obtained through crossing C. X Veitchii with others of the vestita group 
and beautiful things many of them are. This section will now gradually 
cast their foliage, and must be watered with great moderation until the 
