74 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [Marcu, 1907. 
X asperata), raised by Col. Brymer, Ilsington House, Dorchester, and 
recorded at page 173 of our last volume. We do not remember that any 
natural hybrid has yet been recognised in the genus, though they might 
occur where allied species grow together. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR MARCH. 
By W. P. Bounp, Gatton Park, Reigate. 
Wir March comes an increase in the temperatures of the Orchid houses, 
and it is perhaps the most difficult month in the whole year to know how 
best to meet the many and often sudden atmospherical changes that are 
generally experienced. It is essential that the grower should be constantly 
on the alert and prepared for these changes. During the season we have 
just been passing through, when practically all growth has been in a more or 
less dormant or semi-dormant state, quiet temperatures have been correct, 
but now slightly higher temperatures are needed all round, and it is when. . 
treating the houses thus that harm may soon be done, unless great 
discretion is exercised. Frequently at this season a very cold morning is 
closely followed by bright sunshine, and the fires should be so banked at 
night that the pipes have a good heat early in the morning, as just about 
sunrise is when we experience the coldest time. Then if it promises to be 
a bright morning do not make any attempt at starting the fires, because if 
they are disturbed you lose heat when you want it most, and gain it by the 
time the influence of the sun is working, and thus the houses soon become 
veritable ovens, very detrimental to the plants. During those bright 
mornings it is often-times impossible to admit much air to counterbalance 
the heat from the pipes and sun, as the wind is generally north or north- 
east, and genial temperatures cannot be obtained when much of that air is 
admitted, so the point is to have sufficient heat in the pipes to maintain the 
morning temperature, and then get rid of pipe heat as quickly as possible 
when the sun rises. How well this may be done greatly depends on the — 
boilers in use. Since we have used a Robin Hood boiler we have been able 
to follow this idea much more accurately than we could when using saddle 
boilers. With this make we can lose or gain the heat very quickly, and 
both advantages are of great importance, especially at this season. We all 
know that many bright days are followed by very cold evenings, and if the 
man in charge of the fires takes any notice of the thermometer in the’ 
houses, he may not think it necessary to start getting up heat early enough. 
But the sun goes down, and houses that have been standing at between 
80° and go® early in the afternoon fall to 60° or perhaps lower before dark, 
and then the fires are rushed on, and a rise in the temperature takes place, 
This is not right; the fires should be started earlier, so that the pipes 
contain enough heat to make the fall gradual. In my experience this has 
