48 orchid-gkowek's manual. 



an accident fatal to some Orchids, for many do not break 

 well, if at all, fi'om old bulbs. 



The species of Aerides, Saccolabium, Vanda, Angracum, and 

 similar plants that have no fleshy bulbs to support, are best 

 imported after they have become established on flat pieces 

 of wood, so that they can be nailed to the sides of their 

 travelling cases. I once received a consignment of Orchids 

 from Manilla, including amongst other fine plants some beau- 

 tiful examples of Phalanopsis Schilleriana, P. rosea, P. ayna- 

 bills, P. intermedia, Aerides quinquevulnerum, and Vanda vio- 

 lacea, all established and sent off" in the way just described ; 

 they had evidently been growing some time before starting for 

 this country, for on arrival their roots adhered firmly to the 

 wood, and many of their leaves were as green as though they 

 had been in an Orchid house instead of having made such a 

 long sea- voyage in a glass-topped case. One point of import- 

 ance is to take care to well secure the plants to the sides of 

 the cases ; because, if allowed to roll or swing about, they get 

 bruised and soon rot, which is very vexing after all the trouble 

 and expense bestowed on importing them. In the case of the 

 Phalcenoims Schilleriana just referred to, some of the pieces 

 of wood had become loose, rolling about during the journey, 

 which caused injuries. In such cases, if any leaves are bruised 

 during the journey, the best way is to cut them ofi" at once 

 before decay begins ; for if allowed to go on, there will be 

 danger of the whole plant being destroyed. With the cases 

 just alluded to, I received also a close box filled with Phalcc' 

 nopsids packed in the dry bark of trees, which is a very bad 

 material for such tender-leaved plants ; when I unpacked this 

 box there was not a green leaf to be seen — the shaking of the 

 rough material just named, during the long journey, had de- 

 stroyed all the fohage. If these had been packed in very dry 

 soft moss, they would most likely have travelled safely. I 



