FEBRUARY, 1907.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 43 
mid-day sun is too strong to have a good effect on many Orchids. I have 
seen Odontoglossums lose many leaves that could well have been saved if 
some shade had been afforded during the latter part of thismonth. I am not, 
and never was, a believer in coddling Orchids; they speak to us if we only 
observe, and when one can see leaves going off freely it is for us to ask 
ourselves what it is they want, and if they ask for protection from strong 
sunshine give it them, irrespective of date. So much depends on the situa- 
tion and elevation, and I am sure that we get stronger light in February 
than those near large towns get in March, so that each grower must meet 
his own requirements. 
Many spikes will be in evidence now in the Odontoglossum house, and 
traps of bran laid on small pieces of cardboard, orange peel, or lettuce 
eaves should be placed nightly and inspected for slugs. Should the houses 
be badly infected, place a piece of cotton wool as close to the base of the 
spike as possible. This is a good preventative, but I prefer to catch them, 
for besides eating the spikes they do perhaps even more harm in devouring 
the. young: roots ‘as they are being emitted from the new growths. Any 
plants showing spikes that have not made good growth should have the 
spike removed, as it is when the plant is on the down hill road and is 
allowed to carry a flower spike that generally makes it such a wreck, 
entailing several years of culture to make it once again presentable ; yet if it 
had been given a rest from flowering for one year at the right time it would 
most probably have recouped itself. 
In the warmer houses woodlice are often great pests, but hollowed-out 
halves of potatoes laid on the pots and gone over night and morning will 
trap large numbers. It is also most essential that cockroaches be kept 
down, otherwise they will prove a source of great trouble. I find the best 
way is to change the poison used from time to time. We generally have 
three sorts going, which are changed periodically, and unless the pests are 
very numerous, placing it about once or twice a week will suffice, but 
should there be a regular plagae of them, put it down each evening, chang- 
ing the sort used frequently. 
Fumigating should be followed up very regularly. It is a great mistake 
to wait for this till thrip is in evidence, for prevention is far better than 
cure, and the ultimate cost, I am sure, is no greater. I like to fumigate 
each house, with the exception of the Odontoglossum house, about every 
two weeks, but unless we are driven to it we do not like fumigating the 
Odonto. house, and spraying with a weak solution of Quassia extract 
frequently makes the leaves very distasteful to thrip, and used properly has 
no detrimental effects on the plants. 
INTERMEDIATE HouseE.—In this structure many plants will be found 
requiring attention. Perhaps the principal will be that fine species, 
