144 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [May, 1909. 
be taken of the sunny weather. Whenever the morning gives promise of a 
fine day the fire should be banked, and as little heat left in the pipes as 
possible. Some growers dispense with fires altogether during June and 
July, but here we get chilly nights, even in the hottest months, and so find 
it advisable to keep a little heat at night. Where fires can be dispensed 
with without causing injury, it isa good plan to do so, as then the plants get 
every advantage of the moisture in the houses. When plenty of air is 
given, and in most houses left on all night, it must be more natural for the 
plants than fire heat, and is well worth a trial, with all the cooler- Lies. 
section, at any rate. 
The houses should be syringed round in the afternoon as soon as the 
sun begins to lose its power, and the blinds on the Cattleya, Dendrobium, 
and Mexican house rolled up from three to four o’clock. All ventilators 
should also be closed for two or three hours, and then a crack can be put 
on for the night if it is favourable weather. Cypripediums, Odonto- 
glossums, and the occupants of the stove should also be syringed and 
closed up, but the blinds must not be rolled up quite so early. The 
ventilators can be opened where necessary later. I find this is one of 
the best methods of keeping down thrip and red spider, far better for the 
plants than continually using insecticides, which are injurious if not very 
carefully used, especially when the growths are young and tender. None 
of the plants should be allowed to become dry enough to shrivel during the 
growing season, which is also one of the surest ways of breeding thrip. 
Houses should be damped three or four times a day in order to keep a 
nice growing atmosphere, and the walls and pipes should not be forgotten 
because out of sight, as when the pipes are cool it is a good chance to get 
the whole of the ground damp without making an excessive amount of 
steam. Houses should be well ventilated, but no draughts should be 
caused, or trouble will begin. Ventilation should be regulated according to 
the outside conditions, not put on every day and left on every night regard- 
less of circumstances, for even in the best weather we hardly get two days 
alike. Ventilate well, but do not cause draughts or let the temperatures 
drop quickly. Start early, before the houses get like ovens, and increase 
as the sun’s power increases. 
Pans suspended from the roof must be looked over daily, as — dry 
much quicker than those on the stages, and do not get the same amount 
from the syringe as do the other plants. 
In case insects should make an appearance just while the plants are 
making new growths, fumigate rather than use liquid insecticides, but do it 
as soon as the insects are discovered, not wait until the plants are smothered 
and then blame the fumigation for not being effective. Cleanliness is an 
important factor in successful Orchid culture. 
