254 
ORCHIDACEOUS HOUSE. 
such as Achimenes, Gesneras, &c, will pro- 
bably be past flowering, and nearly matured ; 
they must, in that case, have smaller supplies 
of water until they are gradually dried off. 
Potting. — As in the case of green-house 
plants, this may be continued, as required, 
throughout the season of growth. 
Pruning. — For the sake of securing neat 
and well-shaped plants, the free-growing shoots 
of the plants should be topped, in order to 
cause them to grow more compact and bushy. 
Some discrimination is necessary not to re- 
move the tops of the shoots from those plants 
which flower in that position; but if it is done 
in an early stage of growth, there will not be 
much risk. 
Clerodendrons. — Shift these into larger pots 
if they need it, and keep them well watered, 
and in a good position : being plants that pro- 
duce large noble-looking leaves, they are much 
injured in appearance when the leaves become 
damaged. When any are so far advanced as 
to be in flower, they will be found to keep 
longer in perfection, if removed to the green- 
house; indeed, this is the case with most stove 
plants. 
JBranthemiims. — Young plants raised from 
cuttings in February, and intended for early 
winter flowering, should receive the final shift 
now, into five or sis-inch pots, so that they 
may get pot-bound by September : this pro- 
motes their flowering. Similar treatment 
would suit other plants intended for the same 
purpose, such as Justicias, Aphelandras, Eu- 
phorbias, Poinsettias, &c. mentioned at p. 56; 
and Lankesteria and Beloperone, at p. 161. 
Removing the Plants. — The hardier of the 
plants should be moved to one of the green- 
houses — that which is kept at the warmest 
temperature, and this will give room to place 
the plants at greater distances asunder, which 
is a matter of importance at this period ; for, 
if they are allowed to become crowded when 
they are growing freely, they become weakly 
and drawn, and are not so well prepared for 
flowering. Some of the tender annuals that 
will probably be getting too large for the 
frames, may be moved to the stove, either to 
remain permanently for flowering, or as pre- 
paratory to placing them in the warmest green- 
house for that purpose : these are much bene- 
fited by frequent applications, every alternate 
watering, of clear diluted manure water. 
Propagation may still be carried on, under 
any of its forms; but seedlings are not so well 
raised late in the season, as they are then very 
apt to perish in winter. 
ORCHIDACEOUS HOUSE. 
We can add nothing with advantage to the 
general features, as regards temperature, mois- 
ture, shading, &c. sketched at pp. 162 and 211. 
Exactly the same conditions, in all these respects, 
require to be maintained, in order to keep up 
the growth of the plants ; for here, as else- 
where, unchecked growth and successful 
growth are terms nearly or quite synony- 
mous. By unchecked growth, however, it is 
not meant that the plants are not to be brought 
to a state of maturity and rest at the proper 
time, but only that while they are making their 
seasonal growth it should be uninterrupted. 
Ventilation. — The foliage of the plants 
ought to be dried once in the course of every 
day, though at other times the atmosphere 
should be kept moist. The drying of the 
leaves can only be properly effected by means 
of proper and judicious ventilation, which is 
to admit a change of air without allowing a 
current of cold air to enter. The latter evil 
may be checked in ' a variety of ways ; close 
netting, perforated zinc, or wire lattice-work, 
may be fixed over the openings ; or the open- 
ings may be so managed, that the air may 
pass over the hot-water pipes or flues, before 
it comes in contact with the plants. 
Dendrobium. — Those kinds which bloom 
during the winter and spring, if not already 
examined and repotted, or re-arranged on 
blocks or in baskets, as the case may be, 
should now meet with attention, in order that 
the newly-formed stems may get well ripened 
by the end of the growing season : without 
this they will not flower well. 
Oncidium. — Many of these which are very 
free growers, require to get a good share of 
moisture from this time until October, in order 
to keep them in a free growing condition; but 
it should not be given so as to lodge about the 
young shoots. 
Cattleya. — This is one of the very finest 
groups of Orchids. They will now be grow- 
ing freely, and require much less water than 
many other kinds. They should be placed 
near the glass, so that they may receive as 
much light as possible, though the direct rays 
of the sun must not be allowed to act on them 
directly. 
Loelia. — This genus requires very similar 
management to the Cattleyas. 
Aerides and Saccolabium, where they are 
growing freely, should have plenty of sphag- 
num moss tied on the blocks, or placed in the 
baskets about their roots. These require a 
warm situation. 
Resting. — Any of the plants which have 
matured their growth, which is indicated by 
their having ceased to enlarge the size, must 
have the quantity of moisture diminished, so 
as to bring them gradually to a state of rest. 
Watering. — Some difference must be ob- 
served in watering the plants in the hot and in 
the cooler-house; in the former, there is little 
risk of injuring the plants by giving them too 
