364 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [ DECEMBER, 1909. 
Leaves collected this autumn should be kept under cover to prevent them 
rotting too quickly. Those wanted for potting can be rubbed through a 
sieve and stored away till wanted. Moss, of course, can be added fresh as 
wanted. Any compost which has been stored away for some time should 
be sorted over and used up first. In the case of leaves they had better not 
be used if they are at all inclined to crumble away when squeezed in the 
hand. All materials should be well damped and left for a night before 
using, especially fibres which have been stored for some time. All empty 
pots should be washed and stored away; the cracked ones will come in 
useful for staging purposes. Where a large quantity of pots are used a pot 
washing machine will be found very useful, as they are much quicker than 
hand washing, and when properly used a large number of pots can be 
washed in a day without making a drudge of the garden boy. It is sur- 
prising what a lot of time is saved in the busy season n when everything is 
ready for use. 
PAINTING.—The winter seionths I find to be the best time to get the 
houses painted inside, as it is very awkward in the growing season to have 
painters about the houses, and often then a house or division cannot be 
spared. Just now when most things are resting it does not do any harm to 
stage them much closer while painting and cleaning is being done. It also 
gives a chance to get the house floor thoroughly cleaned out. A good 
sprinkling of newly slaked lime will clear out all the slugs which come in 
contact with it. The ground can be forked over after the lime has been on — 
a day or so, and this sweetens the whole house. Where rockeries are used 
to edge the walks, a little care must be taken to keep the lime off the plants. 
The latter can be trimmed and cleaned over, and the beds pricked over with 
a hand fork. All the coke or breeze from the lower stage should be taken 
out and washed, and the stages cleaned down before replacing. This seems 
a lot of trouble, but it practically clears out slugs for a time and saves the 
spikes. After a thorough clean down the houses are as good as new, so far 
as growing is concerned. All plants and pots should, of course, be clean 
when replaced in a clean house or the labour will be thrown away. In re- 
staging, keep the plants well up to the glass, but do not let any leaves or 
spikes touch it. To be safe from a chill the plants should be from nine to 
twelve inches from the glass, then there is not much fear of the plants 
getting a chill on a sharp frosty night. 
Foc.—Up to the present we have been clear of fogs, which is exceptional. 
Should they unfortunately occur the temperatures should be kept as advised 
in last month’s calendar. 
WATERING must be carefully done, and plants which are resting should 
be kept on the dry side. Those that are growing should be given sufficient 
to keep them growing vigorously, and those that are pushing up flower 
