116 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. 
By H. A. BurBERRY, Highbury, Moor Green, Birmingham. 
THE temperatures given last month should still be maintained. The 
weather is ti very changeable and trying this month, which 
it hful and ideration in the matter of ventilation, 
so that the plants may not receive a sudden check caused by too much cold 
air blowing directly upon them ; or, on the other hand, by insufficient air, 
shading, or moisture. Shading from bright sunshine must now generally be 
adopted for all Orchids except those in the Mexican house. Damping down 
should be done twice daily in all departments. 
Thrips and Red Spider must be well kept under from the beginning, by 
employing remedies already advised. For the former fumigate with XL. 
All vapourising insecticide, and for the latter sponge frequently with 
Kilm-right, or soft soapy water. 
The repotting of any Orchid should be pushed on with when it is seen 
to be in the proper condition, which, with but few exceptions, is when new 
growth is appearing and new roots are just pushing out. After repotting 
always expect the plants to shrivel to some extent, but prevent them from 
doing so as much as possible, by giving extra attention in such matters a 
protection from the sun, keeping the surroundings moist, and slightly 
spraying the surface of the compost and the foliage occasionally, until re- 
established. 
This is the most suitable time of the whole year to buy newly-imported 
plants. If purchased now they start to grow almost immediately, and will 
often do as well the first season as others which are quite established. 
Cattleya labiata, I see, has again passed under the hammer at Protheroe 
& Morris’s in large quantities. When received, they should not be taken 
at once into the Cattleya house, for fear of the Cattleya fly, which may be 
lurking concealed within the mass of old roots and bulbs. Let all dead 
roots and other rubbish be trimmed away, and the remaining foliage and 
pseudobulbs washed with a wet sponge ; then, if possible, let them be place 
in a house which is being fumigated with XL. All, which will probably kill 
any fly that may have escaped. Much of this pest has, I believe, lately 
been imported with this particular species. They may afterwards be taken 
to the Cattleya house and placed on the stage in an upright position, bse 
water should be supplied to the roots—not too frequently at first, in OF : 
that they may resuscitate gradually, but surely. Soon the pseudobulbs 
will become plump, and directly new growths and roots are appearing they 
should be potted up and treated as established plants. The same treatment 
should be practised with all other species of Cattleya when newly imported: 
and I would advise growers who intend increasing their collections 
