212 
ORCHIDACEOUS HOUSE. 
a small portion of external air may be admitted 
■when the weather is very hot, in order to 
keep the internal heat from becoming exces- 
sive, but on no account must the plants 
be subjected to a current of cold air. Day 
temperature 70 to 80 degrees ; at night, GO 
degrees. 
Shading will become more and more neces- 
sary with the advance of the season. Whatever 
means of shading is adopted, it must not be 
too thick, for a very slight shade will break 
off the sun's rays. If a moveable shade is 
adopted, it should not be let down when there 
is no necessity for it. 
Aerides. — These now require a very strong 
moist heat to cause them to grow freely, which 
will commence from the present time onwards 
for a month or two, and continue to the end 
of September ; they must then be kept cool 
and dry, till the beginning of March, when, 
if placed in a strong dry heat, they flower 
freely. 
Cyiribidium. — The upright growing ones 
may be potted, if they are growing, but they 
need not be elevated above the soil. Some of 
the species have pendant spikes ; these look 
best in baskets. 
Coslogyne.— Some of these flower twice in 
the season. When the first blooming is over, 
the plants should be kept growing, and when 
this growth is completed, they produce other 
blooms. The following kinds possess this pro- 
perty : — CWallichiana, C. maculata, C. Gard- 
neriana, &e. 
Camarotis. — A very pretty plant ; requires 
the same kind of treatment as Aerides and 
Vanda. 
Dendrobiums. — Those which are commenc- 
ing a new growth may be repotted, or if grow- 
ing in baskets, and require re-arranging, it 
had better be done at once. They should 
make strong growth, and then should be well 
matured. 
Oncidiums. — Pot those which are making 
fresh growth before it is too much advanced. 
Paxtonia rosea. — A pretty terrestrial spe- 
cies ; it may now be repotted and grown on 
vigorously. 
Saccolabiums need treatment very similar 
to that which is given to Aerides. 
Stanhopeas. — Where these are about mak- 
ing growth, pot them, or renew the soil about 
them, and let them be grown on freely. 
Vandas require similar treatment to Aerides 
and Saccolabium. 
Zygopetalums. — Where any of these are now 
growing they must be potted ; they require a 
temperature of from 65 to 75 degrees. In 
potting, keep the pseudo-bulbs well elevated 
above the pot, as shown at p. 58. 
General Culture. — Many of the plants 
which do not require repotting, will be greatly 
benefited by a surfacing of fresh peat earth, 
the old soil being carefully removed. The 
growing plants must have a liberal supply of 
water, and may be frequently syringed. The 
plants in bloom must not, however, be wetted 
over head, but kept in a dry part of the house, 
and where it is not too hot : they remain a 
much longer time in perfection when this is 
attended to, than if they are placed in a very 
hot or very moist situation. They keep very 
well in living rooms, when in bloom. 
FORCING-HOUSE FOR FLOWERS. 
Temperature. — The temperature of the ex- 
ternal atmosphere will now be rising so high 
that little trouble will be necessary to main- 
tain the internal heat of this structure. Give 
all the air possible, so that it be not admitted 
too roughly. From 60 degrees at night, to 
75 degrees by day, will be found a useful 
mean temperature. 
Watering must be strictiy attended to, for 
as the heat increases, and the supply of air 
becomes greater, the more quickly will the 
previous supplies of moisture become evapo- 
rated : it is equally important that no stagna- 
tion should occur when water is applied. 
Insects must be eradicated wherever they 
appear. Fumigate twice, or oftener, if neces- 
sary, during the month. 
Achimenes should be repotted, or otherwise 
encouraged, and pegged or trained out so as to 
completely cover the pot or basket in which 
they are grown. 
Gloxinias, Gesneras. fyc. should also be 
shifted, if necessary, kept near the light, and 
closely watched to see that they do not want 
for water. 
Crassula falcata. — Remove such as are 
near flowering to the coolest part of the 
house, or out altogether. Take off the tops 
of any out of flower, and strike them singly 
in small pots, plunged in heat, taking care not 
to rot them with too much water at first. 
Shift them as soon as they require it, and 
plunge them again, growing them as quickly 
as possible. 
Pinks, fyc. — The pipings of these plants, 
put in last month, ought to be sufficiently 
rooted to be planted out during this. Prepare 
a warm, light, rich border, and after they are 
out keep them strictly clear of weeds, and the 
ground well stirred about them : give them 
an occasional soaking of liquid manure, and 
be careful that they never want for water at 
any time. 
Pelargoniums. — Cut down any plants which 
were forced early, and have perfected their 
growth, since which, they should have been 
kept very dry ; and those now cut in, should 
be kept so too, until they attain a fresh growth 
of half an inch. 
