OcToBER, 1912,] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 308 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR OCTOBER. 
By J. T. BARKER, The West Hill Gardens, Hessle, E. Yorks. 
OWING to the continuation of the wet, cold, sunless weather it will be 
advisable to maintain the temperatures a little above the usual winter 
figures given below, for some of the plants are rather late in completing. 
their growths, and this will assist them to develop and finish more rapidly 
than would otherwise be the case. The weather, and the outside conditions: 
generally, have been as bad as they can possibly be for the cultivation of 
Orchids which delight in heat and light, but for Cool house Orchids they 
have been all that can be desired, which is in striking contrast with those 
of last year, when everything favoured the heat-loving Orchids to the 
detriment of the Cool section. 
We may now at any time expect frost, and very cold nights, and every 
care must be taken to maintain the temperatures somewhere near the 
proper figures, for, if allowed to fall too low, much harm will accrue, 
especially with so many of the growths in a soft and unconsolidated con- 
dition. As the growths complete themselves it will be wise to gradually 
reduce the temperatures to the minimum degree. 
TEMPERATURES.—During this and next month the atmospheric: 
temperatures at night should be as follows :— 
East Indian house, 65° to 70°. 
Cattleya and Mexican house, 60° to 65°. 
Intermediate house, 58° to 62°. 
Odontoglossum house, 55° to 60°. 
Should extremely cold weather prevail, a slight fall in the temperature, 
if not allowed to remain for too long a time, will do no harm, provided the 
atmosphere is kept in a dry condition. Fluctuations in temperature, how- 
ever, must be guarded against as much as possible, and no pains should be 
spared in maintaining them at their proper figures. 
SHADING.—The shading on all the houses may now be removed, as- 
light is of the greatest importance in the ripening progress of all plants, yet 
this factor is often neglected. Plants fully exposed to the light during the 
times when there is no danger of scorching, produce their flowers more’ 
freely, and are less susceptible to the effects of errors of treatment in other 
ways. It is particularly important, after a season like the present one, 
when the growths of so many of our plants have been made under adverse 
conditions as regards heat and light, that they should receive all the light 
possible. And there is great danger of plants whose growths are not 
properly ripened meeting with some checks during the winter, which may 
do them considerable harm. 
ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE must now be applied with greater moderatiom 
