20 TREATMENT OF EPIPHYTAL OKCHIDS. 



must be repeated whenever any again appear, as tlie pupae left 

 behind are hatched after the old ones are destroyed. 



The slug, or small snail, which is also destructive to Orchids, 

 may be trapped with lettuce leaves placed amongst the pots ; it 

 feeds after dark, and should be sought for in the evening by 

 candle light. 



The red spider, tlirips, and different kinds of scale, may all be 

 destroyed by syringing the leaves, first with warm water, and 

 afterwards with a weak solution of tobacco-water and sulphur. 

 With attention, therefore, all these pests may be kept under : 

 persevere constantly until you have entirely exterminated them, 

 and afterwards make all fresh received plants do quarantine 

 before they are admitted into the house. 



Fumigation is requisite in simimer and autumn ; for the small 

 black or green fly sometimes makes its appearance upon the 

 flower stems. Blowing tobacco-smoke with the bellows into the 

 crevices and holes in the wall will also be found the best means 

 of driving the cockroach from his hiding place in the daytime. 



Washing the leaves with a sponge and warm water (not hot) 

 regularly every ten days, will prevent the increase of all such 

 pests as the scale, red spider, thrips, &c., and it will at the same 

 time greatly tend to keep the plants in health and vigour. 



6. Selection of fifty hinds. 



To make a selection of Orchids to suit everybody's taste 

 would be a difficult task, more especially from so extensive a 

 family, in which, from the worthless weed to the perfection of 

 floral beauty, tliere is every variety of form and colour. Be- 

 sides, some of the least attractive to look at are the most fra- 

 grant ; while again some of the largest and most gaudy flowered 

 kinds are so transient as only to last for a few hours in a perfect 

 state. 



In the following list I have selected the most showy genera 

 only, and in those the most free growing kinds, having an eye 

 to preserving as much variation as possible both in appearance 

 and time of flowering. The latter, however, like that of most 

 other plants, may be varied by encouraging them to make early 

 and rapid growth, and on this account they will be sooner in a 

 fit state to receive rest ; they may consequently be made to bloom 

 earlier next season, and if once got into an early state they will 

 retain the same under a regular system of treatment afterwards, 

 while, on the other hand, their season of flowering may be re- 

 tarded by keeping them a little longer than their usual time in 

 a state of repose. Their seasons of flowering under different 

 kinds of treatment may therefore be varied very much, although 



