332 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [ NOVEMBER, 1903. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR NOVEMBER. 
By JoHN Mackay, The Gardens, Highbury, Birmingham. 
THE temperature for the different departments will continue much the same 
as advised for last month. If any difference is made the tendency should 
naturally be to slightly decrease rather than to increase the temperatures. 
The climatic conditions of this month are usually of sucha varied character, 
that the patience and skill of the most talented cultivator are tried to the 
utmost. Bright frosty weather does not seriously affect the grower, but 
what troubles him most is the intermittent spells of dull, moist, and often- 
times warmer weather. During a spell of such weather it is an exceedingly 
difficult matter to maintain a suitable atmosphere in the houses, and damp- 
ing down ard other watering operations have to be carried out in a very 
careful and judicious manner, or harm will soon follow. The thermometer 
may rise a trifle above the regulation standard, and air must be admitted in 
fairly large quantities, through the bottom ventilators, to assist the heating 
apparatus in dispelling the superfluous moisture. As the year wanes, a 
gradual decrease in the temperature recorded in last month’s Calendar 
should follow, being always careful not to employ more fire-heat than is 
absolutely necessary. Too much emphasis cannot be laid on this advice, 
for other conditions being favourable, there is nothing more prejudicial to 
plant life than excessive fire-heat. If by any chance the temperature rises 
above the needed point from this cause, it is not advisable to throw a lot of 
water about the house to counteract its drying influences, but rather admit 
a trifle more air, always through the bottom ventilators. This course, 
however, cannot be followed if the outside conditions are not favourable to 
the admission of air; and then one has to be content with turning the 
valves off, to allow the temperature to recede. 
The lovely Cattleya labiata will, of course, be the greatest attraction this 
month. This grand old species, now displaying its richly coloured blooms, 
will need very careful attention, after the flowers are removed. In the first 
place the sheath must be cut away close to the apex of the pseudobulb, to 
prevent decay; secondly, the plants should be kept in a temperature 
ranging between 60° and 65°, well exposed to the light, and be given very 
little water, or secondary growths will make their appearance, and may be 
the much-dreaded disease ‘‘ black-rot” also. Cold draughts must not be 
allowed to reach them, anddo not place them too near the gidss roof.” If 
the atmosphere be kept a trifle drier than usual the blooms of this Cattleya 
will remain perfectly fresh for a period of four or five weeks, which is of 
the greatest importance to those who have to supply choice flowers for 
cutting purposes. 
Another specially desirable Orchid which blooms at this season in 
