JUNE. 127 



have purposely tried a well-made box, in which the first and third 

 quality appear in a superior degree than in the jars ; but of course it 

 was deficient in the second ; and the result was the loss of half the 

 fruit, and the shrivelhng of the remainder. I have never tried a 

 very large jar, having never had enough best table Apples of one 

 kind to require one. But of moderate sizes it does not appear to 

 make an appreciable difference whether the quantity stored be large 

 or small. There is also another effect produced, and that is the 

 prevention, in a great measure, of the perspiration Apples are sub- 

 jected to when first brought under cover. In a jar this is so slight, 

 that few of them perish from that cause, though no further care be 

 taken of them. And altogether, where such jars are to be had cheap, 

 the plan is worth any one's while to try as an experiment. 



Iota. 



COLLECTING ORCHIDS IN DEMERARA.* 



Having got every thing prepared for the expedition, we commenced 

 our journey up the river. The day was fine, though cloudy ; and as 

 you sail along, a fund of interesting objects meet the view. During 

 daytime birds of the most beautiful description flit across the stream 

 or by the water side, and at night myriads of insects of every shape 

 and hue buzz from sundown until sunrise, the fire-flies illuminating 

 the river and its margin with dazzling brightness. Nocturnal noises 

 and confused sounds are, however, frightfully distinct, presenting a 

 dismal contrast to the allurements and splendid scenes of daylight. 

 The savage growl of the jaguar, as he roams through the bush, and 

 the still more horrible cry of the large red monkey, are individually 

 dreadful enough ; but most of the wild tenants of the forest howl in 

 concert, and throw an indescribable gloom over the spirits, at once 

 grand and appalling. 



The river may be traversed for a hundred miles, and not a habi- 

 tation to be seen. Beautiful climbers and elegant Ferns may be 

 observed, the former even on the loftiest boughs ; and occasionally 

 some of the forest-trees are adorned with parasites, whose rich and 

 splendid flowers divert the eye of the traveller and change the mono- 

 tony of the scene. Sailing up a branch of the Hayama creek, which 

 flows into the river, we arrived at an Indian settlement. This simply 

 consisted of a few wooden sheds, open on all sides, and roofed with 

 plantain thatch. The Indians are greatly on the decrease ; only a 

 few are left to perpetuate the name of the red Americans. Since 

 Europeans settled tliere, the aborigines have been driven from their 

 homes near the sea-shores into the interior of the country ; they have 

 become all but extirpated from their primeval haunts ; and before 

 a century shall have elapsed, they may have totally disappeared from 

 the vicinity of the white man. 



The tropical Orchids are found almost without exception upon 



* Notes from the portfolio of a collector. 



