50 ORCHID- grower's MANUAL. 



also to be made very strong, and the case must not be placed 

 during the journey too near heated surfaces or fires in the 

 vessel. I have seen many boxes of plants spoiled by being set 

 in such positions, the leaves being completely dried up ; they 

 ought to be placed in a moderately warm situation, but by no 

 means near any fires. Many plants also arrive in this country 

 in a dead or dying state, from the efi'ects of exposure to the 

 full efiects of the sun ; this, however, may be obviated by 

 simply painting the glass white inside : it must be allowed to 

 become thoroughly dry before fastening down. 



During the past year or two an immense quantity of Orchids 

 have been sent to this countiy, a large proportion of which 

 proved to be dead upon arrival. There may perhaps be 

 several causes assigned for this, but the rapacious appetite of 

 the collector is the principal one, the boxes being over-crowded 

 by his sending home thousands instead of being satisfied with 

 a few dozens, and in consequence all arrive dead. Another 

 probable cause of this loss is, that they may have been 

 gathered at the wrong season. This is sad to contemplate, 

 involving as it does the extermination of the plants in their 

 native homes, and loss of time to the collector, which, com- 

 bined with loss of money, vexation, and disappointment to the 

 cultivator at home, has a most depressing influence upon 

 Orchid growing. All this might be avoided if collectors 

 would be satisfied with a less number, and would attend to 

 the few simple rules given in this chapter, adapting them to 

 suit the circumstances in which they find themselves placed. 



