MODE OF MAKTNG ORCHID BASKETS. 59 



copper wire, which is very durable. Others are made from 

 the ordinary material in use for making flower-pots — these 

 are very good indeed, and have a neat appearance. We have 

 some very good ones of this description ; they are round, 

 about six inches deep, with holes in the bottom, and made 

 of the ordinary pottery clay ; they are, moreover, very useful, 

 as they last a long time, and the plants do well in them. I 

 prefer, however, those made of wood, on account of their 

 rustic appearance, and, besides, the roots like to chng to the 

 wood. We have found teak wood the best for making baskets, 

 as it is hard and durable. The best baskets are those of a 

 square shape, made of proportionate even-sized rods without 

 the bark. The wood should be cut into the lengths accord- 

 ing to the size of the basket requu-ed. They should not 

 be too large, for there are two objections to this : one is, 

 that they take up much space ; the other, that the plants do 

 not require much room. After the wood is cut into proper 

 lengths, the pieces should be bored within one inch from 

 the ends, taking care to have all the holes bored at the 

 same distance : there should be fom' lengths of copper wire, 

 one for each corner, and this wire being fastened at the 

 bottom, should be put through the hole in each piece of 

 wood, and be afterwards brought up to form the handle for 

 suspending the plants from the roof. Copper wire only 

 should be used in making baskets, for any other is probably 

 injurious to the plants. 



The best kinds of wood for blocks are acacia, apple, pear, 

 plum, maple, hazel, or cork. The wood should be cut into 

 lengths suitable for the size of the plants ; some copper 

 nails should be driven in at each end, to which should be 

 fastened copper wire to form the handle ; wind the wire 

 round each nail, and leave the handle about ten inches 

 high. Small copper nails, driven in on the surface of the 



