THE BOOK OF ORCHIDS 



oblong, fleshy bulbs being terminated by lance-shaped 

 evergreen leaves, the flower spikes being produced 

 from the base of one or both sides of the last made 

 pseudo bulbs. Most of them will luxuriate in the cool 

 house the whole year round, and some people assert 

 that a saturated atmosphere is necessary at all times. 

 During the dull winter months, if the house be natur- 

 ally a damp one, very little or no damping beyond the 

 ordinary watering of the plants is necessary, unless a 

 large amount of fire heat has to be employed to keep 

 up the temperature. In this case the flowers and the 

 ground underneath the stages should be lightly sprinkled 

 at dusk, in just sufficient quantities to tone down its 

 dessicating influence. To] maintain a saturated atmo- 

 sphere during cold wintry weather is undoubtedly 

 injurious to the plants. To pass these cool growing 

 species safely through a hot summer, a thorough damp- 

 ing between the pots morning and evening is quite 

 sufficient if the house be properly shaded and ventilated; 

 but, if the house be a dry one, a second watering of 

 the paths may be given between the hours of nine and 

 ten in the morning. For many years my practice has 

 been to allow the atmosphere to become comparatively 

 dry for several hours at middle day. This kind of 

 treatment prevents the bulbs and the tips of the leaves 

 from decaying, and assists strong robust growth. The 

 watering of the plants, too, requires considerable judg- 

 ment : it is unquestionably injurious to keep the compost 

 always in a saturated condition, as it causes the roots to 

 decay. It is better to wait until each plant becomes 

 properly dry before affording water at the root. After 

 each plant has produced a strong inflorescence, it is 

 advisable to give it a short rest by keeping it compara- 

 tively dry at the root, but not so dry as to cause the 

 pseudo bulbs to shrivel. The temperature of the 

 water applied direct to the plants should not be lower 



