THE ORCHID REVIEW. 313 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR OCTOBER. 
By H. A. BURBERRY, Highbury, Birmingham. 
OcToBER now being here, it is no longer possible to keep up the temperature 
to the same high degree as recommended for the past few months. Nor, 
indeed, is it advisable to attempt to do so, as it would be quite opposed to 
the requirements of the plants, which would soon show the evil effects. 
Warm and intermediate growing Orchids having completed their new 
growth, or nearly so, will delight in nothing so much as a reduction in the 
temperature, so that they may repose and ripen, free from the over-exciting 
influences of excessive heat and moisture; while for cool Orchids, of course, 
a suitable temperature can generally be more readily maintained during the 
cool weather than when it is so very hot. 
The following figures will be a guide to the temperature most suitable 
for the autumn months :— 
Cool house.—Day, with sun, 60° to 65°; without sun, 55° to 60°; night 
and morning, 50° to 55°. 
Intermediate house.—Day, with sun, 70° to 75°; without sun, 60° to 65°; 
night, 60°; morning, 58° to 60°. 
Warm or East Indian house.—Day, with sun, 75° to 80°; without sun, 
70°; night, 65°; morning, 60° to 65°. 
Of course it is impossible to maintain these figures always exactly, and 
no one should attempt it. The inside temperature as well as the outside is 
bound to fluctuate. It is perfectly natural, and an occasional fall of five 
degrees on the whole of the above figures will do more good than harm, 
while for short periods only a fall of ten degrees need not be dreaded, 
especially if the atmosphere is kept good by careful ventilation. ; 
It is no use grumbling about the weather, we have to take it as it comes, 
and make the best of it. Before the rain came we were longing for it to 
cool and moisten the parched up earth. But only hot fierce sunshine was 
to be had then, from early morn till close of day. To keep upa semblance 
to a growing temperature within the houses was done only by sheer dint of 
perseverance, with a syringe and bucket of water, during the greater part of 
the day. And I must say that I doubt whether any Orchid grower of 
experience will say that he considers such periods of tropical heat, ae 
only at lengthy intervals, does, on the whole, benefit his plants. A a 
more than they could stand, as they had grown unaccustomed to it. eir 
tissues, constructed artificially under the usual English climate, collapsed 
under the strain; consequently weakly plants shriveled up, and newly- 
Potted ones retained’ their plumpness only when tended with extra care and 
trouble. But this intensely hot and bright weather suddenly changed. 
Now it is rain, dull weather, and more rain, the atmosphere is reeking with 
