172 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



Orchidaceous plants, like those belonging to other classes, have 

 their enemies, but whether they become numerous, and do a large 

 amount of mischief, rests entirely with the cultivator, for all can be 

 kept in subjection with an ordinary amount of time and attention. 

 Cockroaches are troublesome if not kept under, for they eat the 

 growing point of the roots, and thus prevent them performing the 

 functions allotted to them. Chase's beetle poison is a capital remedy. 

 Lay down a few lumps in the evening amongst the pots, and take it 

 up in the morning to prevent it getting stale. Hundreds will be 

 destroyed that way. As they feed at night, a search should be made 

 for them with the lantern after dark. It must be done cautiously, 

 for they are particularly quick in their movements. Small snails and 

 woodlice are also destructive in their dealings, and injure the plants 

 in much the same way as the cockroaches. The first pest can be 

 easily trapped with large potatoes cut in half, and hollowed out, to 

 admit the ingress of the enemy. These must be gone over every 

 morning, and the snails shook off into a can of hot water. A few 

 woodlice will also creep under the potatoes, but the surest way of 

 dealing with them is to lay a few five-inch pots, filled very loosely 

 with dry hay, upon their sides amongst the plants. JN'o system 

 equals this for destroying this pest. To clear the plants of thrip, and 

 a small white scale which is excessively partial to these plants, wash 

 the foliage and bulbs thoroughly with clean water and a piece of 

 sponge dipped in a lump of soft soap, and when the whole of the 

 plant is gone over in this way, sponge it with perfectly clean water. 

 If thrip and green-fly get ahead, smoking with tobacco paper must 

 be resorted to with promptness ; but if the sponge is put into 

 requisition upon the first appearance of the enemy, no smoking will 

 be necessary. The foliage of orchidaceous plants is very susceptible 

 to injury from tobacco smoke, therefore it must be applied with 

 caution. Three or four weak applications are better than one very 

 strong. A proper degree of humidity is the best remedy for red 

 spider : it will not make its appearance unless the atmosphere 

 is too dry. Washing the foliage as advised for thrip is the best 

 remedy. 



I am now going to give a selection of fifty kinds, all good and 

 cheap. There is not a bad one amongst them. I might have named 

 a few high-priced ones that are rather better in their respective 

 genera than these which I have selected ; but I flatter myself that a 

 better fifty cool orchids could not be had for love or money, if we 

 take all things into consideration. I have gone through a list issued 

 by one of the largest importers of these beautiful plants, and I find 

 that the whole lot, in nice, healthy, well-established plants, can be 

 had for thirty-five pounds, taken separately, and I have no doubt 

 that if bought in one lot, they could be had at a reduction upon the 

 gross amount. Orchids have this advantage over other plants : 

 when grown well, they increase in value every day, and good speci- 

 mens will always realize fair sums ; whilst bedding geraniums, for 

 which a couple of guineas each were paid, will not be worth so many 

 shillings after being in the purchaser's possession a few years. I 

 have already taken up too much space, or I would give a brief 



