JANUARY, 1908.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 27 
has been successfully hybridised with D. nobile, Wardianum, aureum, 
Findlayanum, and X Ainsworthii, resulting in a series of handsome hybrids. 
(To be continued). 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR JANUARY. 
THE Calendar announces the advent of a new year, and the gradually 
lenthening days will soon proclaim the fact to the Orchidist, though for 
the present we are in the dull winter season, and must continue the same 
course of treatment. Any attempt to hasten matters by forcing the fires 
when the weather is inclement outside would be premature and probably 
disastrous. Should the weather be severe additional protection may be 
afforded by letting down the blinds at night, and a mat suspended at the 
exposed end of the house is sometimes useful. 
Ventilation will require care, so as to avoid giving the plants a chill, 
though a little air should be given whenever possible, especially in the 
cooler departments. Any increase of temperature above the normal should 
be by sunheat alone, when a rise of about five degrees will be beneficial, 
for the genial sunshine hastens the period of renewed vegetative activity. 
Special care should be taken to prevent all drip from the roof, which is 
a fruitful cause of spot this season, when the cold outside leads to excessive 
condensation. If this cannot be altogether avoided care should be taken to 
move any plant into a safe position. 
Damping down must also be carried out in accordance with the outside 
conditions, the main object being to secure the proper amount of atmos- 
pheric moisture. In cold weather, when a good deal of fire heat is necessary 
to keep up the temperature, more damping of the side walls, paths, &c., 
will be necessary than in mild genial weather. If the syringe is used for 
this purpose care should be taken not to wet the plants themselves at this 
early season. 
Watering should be done with great care. Plants that are resting -will 
require little attention, as in many cases just sufficient moisture in the , 
compost to prevent shrivelling is all that is necessary. Those that are 
growing will require more moisture, but with evaporation reduced to a 
minimum they will only require attention occasionally if the atmospheric 
moisture is well regulated. 
Cleanliness is a matter of great importance, and a close watch should 
be kept for insect pests, which soon work much mischief if allowed to get 
the upper hand. A plant infested with parasites is heavily handicapped, as 
they live upon the sap, and when it becomes sickly from this cause it often 
takes a long time to recover. A little timely attention will often prevent a 
bad outbreak. 
