﻿THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR FEBRUARY. 



The temperatures and general management of the plant for this month will 

 differ but little from that previously advised, viz., treating them liberally in 

 the matterof air, warmth, and moisture, as far as the outside conditions will 

 permit. ' \ r' ' ' ' 



The preceding month was remarkable for its variation of weather, and 



the heating apparatus, which is one of the chief mainstays during the 

 winter season.. The fog, too, did its worst, and I do not remember having 

 such a loss of bloom in this district before. Among the many blooms 

 spoiled were Laelia anceps, Phalaenopsis, Cattleya Trianae, Dendrobiums, 

 and many Ladio-cattleya hybrids just about to open. With the advance of 

 the present month, however ; the days will lengthen, and a corresponding 

 increase of light may be expected, which will be very welcome. As the 

 days lengthen and the light increases, so may the thermometer be allowed 

 to rise gradually, and a little more moisture be supplied, which will tend to 

 encourage renewed activity. Everything in this direction, however, should 

 be done gradually, or the result will be far from satisfactory, as the weather 

 is not yet to be relied upon ; a spell of warm spring-like weather may be 

 followed by another nip of winter. 



It is at such times that plants, having been unduly hastened into 

 growth, receive a check, from which perhaps they may not recover. The 

 success attending plants during the winter in all departments depends 

 largely upon the health and vigour they possess, and no plant can remain 

 vigorous if the compost in which it is growing is decayed, and it follows 

 that the roots also will be more or less in a bad state. When such is the 

 case, a very little drought is sufficient to cause exhaustion, shrivelling, 

 loss of leaves, &e. Any plant having a good supply of strong healthy roots, 



with good treatment, and continue to improve and increase in size. In 



excessive watering during summer, is desirable ; all that is required being a 

 common-sense method of treatment, which should be one of moderation at 



ones which give the greatest trouble, and these are apt to go from bad to 

 worse during the winter time, unless specially looked after. To illustrate 

 this, let us suppose we have two choice Laelio-cattleva hybrids : one is in 

 vigorous health with plenty of roots, in a compost sweet and good, the other 

 a weakly plant, having little or no roots, although the compost in each case 



