58 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR FEBRUARY. 
By H. A. BURBERRY. 
CERTAINLY this balmy “ South-of-Cornwall” kind of weather we have 
experienced for the greater part of the present winter should—where 
Orchids have been properly cared for, and black fogs do not trouble—have 
worked wonders. What asmall amount of fire heat has been necessary 
- to be sure, and what a grand supply of light and fresh air the plants have 
enjoyed compared to that of our winters generally, and it cannot fail to 
have but a good effect on Orchids in all departments. 
Let me once more advise that no pains be spared in providing the most 
beneficial atmosphere and the best conditions generally within our Orchid 
houses, for therein, and therein only, lies the secret of success. The 
conditions that are most suitable for the well-being of Orchids are likewise 
the healthiest for the men who grow them—the plainest, the simplest, and 
easiest of all to create. When once the growing conditions required by 
an Orchid are thoroughly grasped and understood, the maintenance of 
such conditions then becomes simplicity itself. Success does not come 
to those who coddle their plants up day after day, and week after week, in 
a suffocating, oppressive, and unduly exciting atmosphere. They only 
make for themselves an enormous amount of useless work, consisting of 
damping down, cleaning, &c., and at the same time are rewarded by seeing 
their plants gradually but surely become weak and spindly, and quite 
unable to push forth a strong break, or growth, which in its turn would 
produce a strong healthy truss of flowers. Orchids, like other plants and 
flowers, unless seen in their full beauty, lose much of their attractiveness. 
Those on the other hand who make a cardinal point of employing fresh air, 
and using warmth and moisture in moderation, according to the season of 
the year and the outside conditions of the weather, not only have the satis- 
faction of seeing their charge improve in sturdiness year by year, but find 
that the time and attention demanded becomes less and less in accordance 
with their experience. 
The ‘‘man at the wheel” is the stoker. It is very important that he 
should be a man of intelligence, having some forethought and capable of 
making use of the same. What a boon a thoughtful stoker is! It is not 
too much to say, and none will deny it, that on him depends to a very large 
extent the success or non-success of the cultivation of exotic plants. 
DENDROBIUMS.—Many of the earliest to flower of these will now have 
finished and be starting again into active growth. Such kinds are D. 
aureum, D. X Cassiope, D. japonicum, D. x euosmum, the earliest batch 
of D. nobile, and a few others. Attend to them and do whatever is required 
in the matter of repotting or top dressing, but do not on any account hurry 
