THE ORCHID REVIEW. 181 
good results. . But when this is done it is necessary to be a little careful 
with some few things whose young growths are in the habit of damping off. 
When plants are healthy, however, and the conditions well attended to, as 
advised, the plants that damp are few and far between, though one or two 
Dendrobiums are likely to do so, particularly D. Benson# and D. superbum. 
The houses so closed and damped down will become beautifully warmed, and 
a lovely growing temperature will be generated that will last throughout the 
night without the assistance of fire heat, although it is frequently advan- 
tageous, and even necessary, to have a slight warmth in the pipes during 
the night in the warmest departments, that is, the Dendrobium and East 
Indian houses. When finally closing the houses in this manner for the 
day, I always like to leave the ventilators more or less open at the bottom, 
according to the conditions of the weather. And it must be remembered 
that the above treatment is good only for Orchids that require much 
warmth during the growing season. For cool Orchids it would be fatal. 
Although I have given the above method of cultivation as being a good 
one for the encouragement of free and healthy growth, it is not the best for 
Orchids that are in flower, that is supposing the blooms are required to 
last in perfection, for they are soon rendered spotted and useless by the 
damp. Even without the overhead syringing the flowers of any Orchid 
will spot just the same if there is no warmth in the hot-water pipes during 
the night. Failing this the flowers will not remain perfect without an 
abundance of air, such, for instance, as is given to the Cool house. We get 
over this difficulty by keeping a little house expressly for Orchids in flower. 
The is and is thus suitable for all except the Cool 
Qrchided A little heat is always in the pipes to keep down the damp, and 
the house is also well ventilated, and not only do the flowers last a long 
while in perfection, but the temperature is the very best in which to grow 
the maidenhair fern (Adiantum cuneatum), and it therefore answers a double 
purpose, a Fern house and an Orchid Show house. An illustration of this 
house was given at page 241 of the last volume. 
In such a house how well the Orchids are set off, and what a pretty 
show they make, especially at this time of year. The gorgeous Cattleyas 
Mossie and Mendelii, and the not less showy Lelia purpurata, the 
benntitoh. Miltonia vexillaria, and the truly charming drooping spikes of 
are only a few of those that could be mentioned. 
Take care that the flowers of none are left on the plants too long, so as to 
‘cause exhaustion. In this respect much depends upon the strength and 
condition of the plants. If strong, the fact of blooming is nothing, but 
weakly shrivelled specimens, if allowed to bloom at all, should have their 
spikes removed as early as possible and placed in water. 
The Cattleyas Mossie and Mendelii, and others that still remain, will 
