knife, (never scissors) and after cutting, place the flowers in water, prefer- 
ably, in a cool dark corner for ia few hours to harden them. Use containers 
that hold a generous supply of cold water, which should be changed daily 
and when changing, it is well to cut a slight portion off the stem. 
GENERAL CULTURE 
We come now to General Culture, referring herein more specifically to 
the Cattleya, Laelia, Brasso and their hybrids. The subject “Culture,” 
must necessarily be elastic to a certain extent, as climatic conditions vary 
with locations, but we believe a good general foundation and understanding 
is the primary essential to successful plant growing, and thus armed, the 
term “Orchid Culture,” should mean “Orchids are easy to grow.” 
GREENHOUSES. The saying “Any Greenhouse is Suitable to Grow 
Orchids,” is quite correct. There are many small greenhouses in which the 
owner has been growing other types of plants, and would like to try a little 
collection of Orchids with them. This can be done nicely with, perhaps, 
only a few minor inexpensive changes. In the cases of large, varied, private 
collections the house or houses, are usually divided into two or three sec- 
tions — warm, intermediate and cool, as is the family of Orchids in general. 
VENTILATION. Orchids require plenty of fresh air for good, strong 
plant growth. As conditions vary so, the amounts used can only be left to 
one’s good judgment consistent with proper temperatures. From late spring 
to fall more air may be given than through the winter months. Do not 
allow the atmosphere to become too dry by ventilating to excess during the 
hot summer. ‘Care must be taken ito prevent drafts. Through the fall, win- 
ter and spring it is important that the plants are not chilled and there are 
times during the winter when a slight crack of air in the middle of the day 
is sufficient. With houses having bottom air, the method of ventilating is 
different, as the shaded side can be opened during hot, dry weather with 
the top vents not so wide. This will keep the atmosphere from drying out 
to excess. In the winter, a little bottom air is good when the top can only 
be slightly opened, as the air entering the bottom circulates and loses its 
chill before reaching the plants. 
SHADING. We recommend most highly the wood slat shades in their 
different forms. Roller slat shades are best, as they can be raised or lowered 
att will depending on the amount of sunlight through the day. Through 
the winter, here in the Hast, it is advisable to have as much light as possi- 
ble, and we remove all shades until early spring when the sun starts getting 
hotter. There is no definite time to replace shading, but we find it necessary 
to usually start in February. In case where there are no wood slat shades, 
some of the forms of greenhouse shadings should be applied, and a light 
coat for the first time and additional heavier coats as the sun gets brighter 
and hotter. Orchids require light, but too bright a house will have a ten- 
dency to yellow the foliage and harden the plants too much. By the same 
token too heavy and dark a shading will soften the plants too much, Dur- 
ing the latter part of summer the coating will naturally begin to wear off, 
and by fall, when the sun has lost its burning qualities, should be quite thin, 
resulting in a lighter house so that the plants will ripen off ito good advan- 
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