26o 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[August, igij 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR AUGUST. 



By J. T. BARKER, The West Hill Gardens, Hessle, E. Yorks. 



THE recent dull, sunless weather, a great 

 contrast to that which we experienced 

 last year at this season, has not been 

 ideal for heat loving Orchids. The cool 

 section has benefited, undoubtedly, by the 

 moisture laden atmosphere and the abundant 

 supplies of fresh air that it has been possible 

 to give the plants. 



Everything must be done to encourage the 

 plants that are in full growth to develop as 

 speedily as possible. It is always advisable 

 during a period of sunless weather to admit 

 more air and to maintain the temperatures in 

 the warmer houses by a little fire heat ; this 

 causes a nice buoyant atmosphere in which 

 all plants appear to revel. In the cool house 

 this is not a necessity, the object being to 

 maintain as low a temperature as possible. 

 No plant must be allowed to suffer for the 

 want of water at this season ; it is astonishing 

 how much well established plants will absorb. 

 Spraying and syringing- may be done if the 

 weather remains favouraVjle, but do not allow 

 water to stand in the centre of the new 

 growths. 



Cattleyas, LEelio-Cattleyas, and others of 

 this large family, should all be taken in hand 

 as soon as they require new rooting material. 

 The best time is when new roots commence 

 to push forth, for it is then that the plant is 

 least likely to receive the slightest check. 

 Where a large collection of these most beau- 

 tiful plants are grown some repotting will be 

 necessary in almost every month of the year. 

 One of the greatest aids to the cultivation of 

 this class of plant is to keep the rooting 

 medium thoroughly sweet and healthy, for no 

 plant can thrive in a sour and worn out 

 compost. 



Cypripediums of the winter flowering sec- 

 tion, which were potted as advised early in the 

 year, will now have filled their pots with roots, 

 and may be copiously supplied with water, but 

 an excessive supply must be carefully guarded 

 against. Towards the end of the month many 

 will be pushing up their flower spikes ; these. 



as soon as they are long enough, should be 

 carefully and neatly tied up to stakes of 

 suitable length, for if allowed to hang over the 

 sides of the pots many will become crooked, 

 and it is a difficult matter to again get them 

 upright. 



Deciduous Calanthes of the vestita and 

 Veitchii sections are now growing vigorously 

 and well established plants require an abund- 

 ance of water at the roots. Care must still 

 be taken in the application of water to those 

 of the Regnieri and later flowering section, for 

 these have not as yet filled their pots with 

 roots. Well established plants may now have 

 frequent waterings with weak liquid manure. 



Dendrobiums, especially those of the nobile 

 section, will have completed their growths 

 towards the end of the month. It will be 

 necessary to frequently examine them in 

 order that those which have ceased growing 

 may be removed to a cooler and drier atmo- 

 sphere, where they will receive the benefit of 

 extra light. They should be gradually 

 exposed to full sunshine in order to thoroughly 

 mature the newly-made growths. To retain a 

 vigorous and healthy constitution the plants 

 should only be allowed to make one set of 

 growths each year. The plants will be quite 

 safe for some little time in a place where the 

 night temperature does not fall below 60°. 

 Later on they may be removed to a cooler 

 and drier atmosphere. 



Miltonia vexillaria. Towards the end of 

 this month the earliest flowering plants of this 

 species will commence to grow actively. Any 

 necessary repotting may be done when the 

 plants commence to push forth new roots 

 from the base of the young growths. Large 

 specimen plants showing signs of exhaustion 

 should have the old material removed, and all 

 useless bulbs cut away, leaving only two or 

 three behind each lead. The compost recom- 

 mended is equal parts peat, osmunda, and 

 polypodium fibre, sphagnum moss, and clean 

 sifted half-decayed oak leaves, all thoroughly 

 mixed together. The plants must not be 



