THE ORCHID: REVIEW. 89 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR MARCH. 
By W. H. Wuire, Burford, Dorking. 
As the season advances the plants will be greatly aided by the increasing 
length of the days and by sun-heat. The latter will necessitate putting the 
blinds and shading in order, which should be attended to without delay. 
The collection as a whole will require to be protected from the hot sun, 
especially during the hottest part of the day, as the concentration of its 
rays would soon cause much disfigurement to the foliage. At this time of 
year one cannot be too careful in this respect, as if the shading is not 
properly attended to, the leaves quickly get scorched. At the same time do 
not allow the blinds to be down any longer than is really necessary. Fixed 
shadings of any sort I do not agree with, as they exclude the light, which is 
a necessary element in the successful cultivation of Orchids. The best 
system of shading is the ordinary roller blinds. These should be raised 
about five or six inches above the glass, by having a slight wooden frame- 
work fixed on the roof for the blinds to roll on. Abundance of light and air 
is thus allowed to pass between the glass and the canvas, which will help to 
keep down the temperature in hot weather. The fluctuations of tempera- 
the will no doubt be considerable, owing to the prevalence of cold winds, 
with alternating spells of bright sunshine. The houses must therefore be 
carefully regulated according to the weather. If it continues mild outside, 
More moisture may be kept in the atmosphere, and the ventilation should be 
gradually increased whenever practicable. 
In the hottest house, where such plants as Aérides, Saccolabiums, 
Angrecums, &c., have been re-potted or top-dressed, a slight rise in the 
temperature by night may be allowed, but in other departments the 
temperatures previously advised should be maintained. 
During the dull winter months there is no section of Orchids that 
br ighten up the houses so effectively as the Calanthes of the vestita group. 
Coming from very hot countries, they require the lightest and best position 
in the plant stove or East Indian house. They are terrestrial; conse- 
quently the compost used should be of a firmer or more retentive nature than 
= used for many other Orchids. I have tried several different mixtures, but 
a : oS best with the following: one-half good fibrous loam, one- 
eaf soil, the remainder finely chopped sphagnum moss, with a good 
sprinkling of coarse silver sand; the whole being well mixed together. If 
= loam be not procurable, use fibrous peat instead, but less of it, and 
* Jubeig The compost being prepared, should be laid a few days prior 
rig in a suitable place to get warm, otherwise the pseudobulbs may 
2 check from the cold compost. 
It is difficult to determine the exact date of re-potting, which, however, 
