THE ORCHID REVIEW. 279 
in mind that the amount of sunlight and heat is gradually diminishing, and 
the external air is not so hot or dry as during the preceding months, 
therefore there is no necessity for damping down so frequently as in the 
hottest part of the season. Neither will the plants require watering at the 
root so often.: During the present month, unless a considerable amount of 
fire-heat is requisite to keep up the temperature, the East Indian and 
Cattleya divisions may be moderately damped down, both morning and 
evening. Strictly attend to the drying up of each division during the 
middle of the day, as mentioned on page IT1Q. This drying-up process, 
especially at the present time, will greatly assist the proper ripening of the 
bulbs, and at the same time check any development of spot disease. By 
closing both houses up at about three p.m., the temperatures may be allowed 
to rise to between 80° and go® with sun-heat. Immediately the houses are 
damped down, start the fires gently, so that, if required, enough fire-heat 
may be at command to prevent the temperatures from falling too low during 
the night. By partially opening the lower ventilators at about eight p.m. a 
close unhealthy atmosphere may be avoided. ‘The thermometer in the 
hottest house by the morning should be at about 68° in this house, and in 
the Cattleya or Intermediate at 65°. 
In the cool houses, if properly attended to. in the matter of ventilation, 
damping down, and shading, the temperature will be a few degrees below 
the external air. 
Amongst the plants now in flower Vanda Sanderiana stands out con- 
spicuously, and ever since its introduction it has been considered a rare 
and first-class Orchid. Its large, noble flowers certainly give it a com- 
manding appearance—the more so, as NO other of its class can approach it 
in size, and when seen with several spikes fully expanded, it is a decidedly 
handsome acquisition to our tropical houses. This fine Orchid has 
generally been found difficult to establish, and those who possess plants of 
it should give them every encouragement as regards light, heat, and 
moisture, shading them, however, from actual sunshine. Several experi- 
ments have been tried here with plants of at. “AR exceptionally fine 
imported plant was placed in a teak basket, with sphagnum moss ig 
loosely about the stems, with the sdea of encouraging the eros —* 
new roots; which it certainly did, though not in sufficient quantity to keep 
the lower leaves intact. The next step taken ‘was 
broken crocks for the sphagnum, but this failed to pro 
Ultimately it was feat ve make a long upright teak eylinder for tbe ate 
plant was then placed in the centre and made firm with copper one ‘# 
material whatever being used about the roots. In a short 2 <a oa 
roots commenced to push out young ones, which soon parciope : ¢ = 
in the greatest state of luxuriance, some of them measuring laa : ro- 
feet in length. ‘This particular plant last year 8aV° us seven Spices; P 
