406 
THfc ORCHIDACEOUS HOUSE. 
to bloom out of tlieir natural season, for the 
purpose of supplying a few flowers during 
winter. These are exceptions, and require to 
be treated pretty much as already recommended 
for growing and blooming plants, — perhaps a 
little less liberally, but still on the same general 
system. The rigid treatment which is now to 
commence — insensibly, as it were — is intended 
to apply to those, in fact, which have done 
with blooming for the present, and which have 
been revelling in the production of fresh 
branches, to bear the next crop of flowers. 
Temperature, Sfc. — The atmosphere must 
not be quite so much under the influence of 
the external air ; the first advances towards 
exclusion must be made, and though it will 
seldom be necessary to light fires before 
next month, yet the internal temperature 
must be kept up to its average point — say 
70 degs. by day, and 60 degs. at night — by 
shutting the house early in the afternoon, 
giving air less fully, though scarcely less 
freely, throughout the day, and avoiding, at 
all events, such complete exposure to the ex- 
ternal air as may, till recently, have been 
indulged in. And though, for the purpose of 
ripening and maturing growth, a comparatively 
dry atmosphere is required, yet this must not 
be suddenly commenced : at first, nearly as 
much moisture as formerly must be distributed 
in the atmosphere and applied to the soil ; this 
amount must decrease and become smaller 
gradually, by degrees, until the rigidity of 
winter management is reached. 
Shading. — For the reason already named — 
that is, the necessity of ripening the growth 
produced — shading must be given up, if main- 
tained so long, and the plants must have as 
much light as they can receive ; but even this 
is not to be done suddenly ; the change must 
be effected by gradations. 
Watering. — As a part of the means, towards 
producing the end in view, the direct applica- 
tion of water must be governed by the same 
principles of limitation and reduction as al- 
ready spoken of in reference to atmospheric 
moisture and heat ; and the reduction in this 
case, too, must be brought about gradually. 
When the health of plants is studied, they will 
not in any case be submitted suddenly to 
changes which are of very great moment, or 
which are likely to affect them much. 
Cleaning, — Before the plants are arranged 
jn their winter quarters, which must be thought 
about next month at least, an opportunity 
should be taken to have them thoroughly 
cleaned, not only from any dirt, dust, or filthi- 
ness which may have accumulated on them, — 
which ought not to have been allowed, — but 
also, as far as practicable, from insects. If 
this is done now, and well followed up through 
the winter, very foul plants may be expected 
to commence their next season free from pests 
of this nature. Besides the advantage to the 
plant, the advantage in appearance is very 
great indeed. 
Ixoras, — those fine shrubs, with hydrangea- 
like heads of scarlet flowers, — should, after 
having been induced to make their growth in 
a warm and moist atmosphere, be kept in a 
temperature of about 50 degs., until they are 
started next season for flowering. 
Begonias. — Some of these, especially B.ma- 
nicata, and B. hydrocotylifolia, which flower 
beautifully in spring, and are very handsome 
plants, should about this time be potted, and 
set to grow on steadily through the winter. 
When plants — as in the case of these — are set 
to grow in the winter, they must be very 
carefully watered; it would greatly injure 
them to get too much ; at the same time, they 
ought to have enough. 
Achimenes picta, fyc. — This fine plant, and 
its ally, Gesnerazebrina, should be encouraged 
to grow ; and if any late plants, raised from 
cuttings of other species of Achimenes, or 
Gesnera — G. oblongata, for example — can be 
had, so much the better, as they will afford 
some variety. Gesnera oblongata is a good 
winter plant, and may be grown on purpose. 
Oleanders. — Cuttings of these may be 
planted now to furnish young plants for forcing 
into flower in the spring. If kept in the 
green-house during winter, and potted and 
removed to the stove in March, they will 
flower in April. 
ORCHIDACEOUS HODSE. 
With the decline of the season, a corre- 
sponding course of treatment must be adopted. 
The plants that commenced their growth at an 
early period of the season will have, in most 
cases, attained maturity ; and when this is the 
case, they must be treated with a limited sup- 
ply of stimulants. Others, which did not 
commence growing so earl)', or which take a 
longer period in. arriving at a mature state, 
will require liberal treatment until that stage 
is attained, when they, too, must be gradually 
brought to a state of rest. Those which in 
the development of their natural character- 
istics, seek to grow away now, must be en- 
couraged, for it is injurious to check them ; 
but the object of the cultivator should be, in 
great measure, to mould their period of growth 
in accordance with our seasons. If only one 
house is possessed, this is essential : it is less 
urgent where there are two, as, in the latter case, 
much more may be done, so far as treatment 
is concerned, to cause the plants to bloom in 
succession throughout the year. 
Temperature, SfC: — For a growing atmo- 
sphere, 75 degs. with moisture must be kept 
up ; and this will, in great measure, be sup- 
