110 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [APRIL, 19: 3- 
that system of culture the nearest approach to Nature, which must be the 
best, and most probable to lead to satisfactory results in the growing and 
flowering of these plants. The cause of failure in not a few instances that 
come under my notice is traceable to keeping too high a temperature. 
Nothing is more injurious to the plants, and many would be far better in 
cooler quarters than are often allowed. A very important matter is to 
see that a lower temperature is kept at night than in the day, for nothing is 
more injurious to plant life than high temperatures at night, nor is anything 
more contrary to natural conditions. So sensitive are all plants, and 
especially Orchids, to atmospheric influence, that no matter how well they 
are treated in other ways, they cannot long continue in a satisfactory 
condition of cultivation unless a proper atmosphere is maintained about 
them. Orchids, with few exceptions, do not mind, but thoroughly enjoy 
sun heat, if moisture and air are abundant, so long as they can obtain a 
cool night air for their recuperation after the heat of the day. 
The state of the atmosphere is without doubt of equal, if not more 
importance, than the potting compost for the plants to root in—a condition 
that not only applies to Orchids but to the majority of other plants. Light 
is the very life of most plants, but it is Jess under our control than any 
other factor. Possibly in no other cultural detail are Orchids, and many 
other plants, so liable to be mismanaged as in respect to shading, and I 
would urge all young growers to make a special point of grasping the full 
value of this most essential element, light, for it is of the greatest 
importance, and nearly all plants pine for it in our dull, sunless winters, 
of which the present one is a melancholy example. The great influence 
that light has upon Orchids will be seen in the plants grown in it, for not 
only are these more free flowering, but the enduring properties of the 
blooms are greatly increased, frequently to the extent of lasting twice as 
long as others grown under more or less dense shade ; moreover, the plants 
are hardier, so to speak, that is, they are not so susceptible to the effects of 
slight errors of treatment in other ways. 
In the case of those kinds that need a high temperature, with the ever- 
accompanying moist conditions of the atmosphere, it is not always possible 
to give them air in the amount received when growing naturally, but it is 
possible to a considerable extent to make up for this deficiency by giving 
the plants as much light as they will safely bear; for, with plants under 
glass, light has a similar correcting influence over deficiency of air to that 
which the presence of plenty of air has over inefficiency of light. I suppose 
there are few engaged in Orchid cultivation to-day who have not noticed 
during the past season the healthy vigour and growth of nearly all Orchids 
that benefit by heat and sunshine—sure evidence of how very beneficial was 
the hot weather of 1911, when during that rare and ideal summer we enjoyed 
