10 GENERAL COLLETT AND MR. W. B. HEMSLEY ON PLANTS 
terminating the eurved stout scape; in this character quite 
unlike any other known species of the genus. The flowers are 
very sweet-scented, and are much prized by the Shan maidens 
for ornamenting their hair. The plant is very common in some 
localities, and I have often seen its flowers exposed for sale in the 
village bazaars. Unfortunately, under the impression that it 
was well-known, I did not take the trouble to send home living 
plants, and even my dried specimens are imperfect, wanting both 
leaves and pseudobulbs. 
Cultivation. 
Cultivation on the Shan plateaux consists of rice, ‘both the 
common sort grown in irrigated fields, as in the low country, and 
the hill variety, which matures its grain on unirrigated land. 
Indian corn, cotton, tobacco of very fine quality, and several 
species of millet and pulse are also common crops here as well as 
in Upper Burma. 
The methods of cultivation pursued in the Shan hills are more 
advanced than one would have expected, and the people by their 
ready adoption of potatoes and wheat have shown that they are 
quite willing to effect improvements. The fields are scrupulously 
cleared of weeds, which are collected into heaps and burned, 
the ashes being afterwards mixed with manure and spread over 
the surface of the ground. 
A curious custom, prevailing throughout the whole country, 
which I have not seen elsewhere, is the treading in by cattle of the 
seed after it has been sown broadcast over the ploughed fields, 
instead of using the harrow. I have frequently seen a man with 
a couple of dogs driving a small herd of ten or twelve cattle to 
and fro in a ploughed field, and it was at first sight rather 
difficult to understand what they were doing. The results are 
satisfactory, as the crops of rice, Indian corn, &c. are always 
good in favourable seasons. 
The Shan people are naturally a very quiet and industrious 
race, and all they ask is to be left in peace to cultivate their 
fields. For many years past the country has been the scene of 
strife and anarchy—a state of things entirely due to the personal 
ambition and the quarrels of the numerous petty chieftains who 
have held the country divided among them. There can be no 
doubt that the pax Britannica, which is now enforced in these 
