1 8 THE BOOK OF ORCHIDS 



the cooler part of the East Indian house, or a warmer 

 one in the Cattleya house, will have to be utilized. 

 Each plant should be under the cultivator's personal 

 care, he noting the conditions under which it succeeds 

 best ; whether on the bright or shady side of the house, 

 at a warmer or cooler part, and a variety of circumstances 

 which will strike the observant grower. Considering 

 that Orchids come from so many parts of the world, and 

 from different altitudes, it is difficult to suit each one as 

 to its cultural requirements, but a great deal may be done 

 by judiciously selecting certain positions for certain plants. 

 On this point much information may be obtained by 

 visiting other collections, and noting the positions which 

 the best grown plants occupy. 



The respective degrees of warmth found conducive to 

 the health of the plants as maintained by fire heat, are 

 as follows : — 



East Indian house. — During the summer 65 to 70 by 

 night, and 70 to 8o° by day, rising lo° or 15 during 

 sunshine. Winter 6o° to 65 by night, and 6o° to 70 

 by day. 



Cattleya house. — During summer 6o° to 65 by night, 

 and 65 to 70 by day, rising higher with sun heat. 

 Winter 55 to 6o° by night, and 6o° to 65 by day. 



Intermediate house. — The temperature of this house 

 should, as the name implies, be just between that of the 

 Cattleya and that of the cool house. 



Cool house. — The temperature should be kept as near 

 6o° as possible by day, and 55 by night during summer. 

 In winter the night temperature may fall to 45 — 50 

 without injury to the plants, but should be increased 

 several degrees by day. 



These temperatures must, however, only be regarded 

 as averages ; the maximum temperatures very frequently 

 exceed that given above during the summer, for, while 

 care is necessary during the spring and late autumn months 



