76 OR CHID- grower's manual. 



exhibitions tinder bell-glasses, and I never found them injured 

 by such changes. I, however, always took care to prepare 

 them before starting, by not giving them too much water, and 

 by putting them in a cooler house, which should be done with 

 all plants of a tender kind before taking them to a show. 

 Few plants would be injured if treated in a proper way before 

 leaving a warm house. The plants in question were shown 

 for several years, and though that was many years ago, some 

 of the same stock still exist ; and these were grown without 

 bottom heat and under bell-glasses in the shade. I mention 

 this to show how many years AiicBCtochili may be gi'own when 

 subjected to the treatment best suited for them. 



When out of health I have found that the best way is to 



turn them out of their pots and examine their roots ; if in a 



bad state below, wash the bottom of the plant, and repot in 



fresh soil. Thus treated I have known them to improve and 



do well for some time, provided they have not been allowed to 



get too much out of order before being seen to ; if so, there 



may be little hope that all the care bestowed on them will be 



of any use. These plants, unlike some Orchids, have no thick 



woody pseudobulbs to support them ; their small fleshy stems 



require constant attention to keep them in a thriving state, but 



with care they may be grown to perfection. The flowers are 



small and unattractive, and often injure the plants ; I therefore 



always pinch them ofi" when they appear, and find that doing 



so induces thern to make lateral shoots freely. 



These plants require to be grown in a warm house or pit, 

 where the temperature ranges, in winter, by night from 55° 

 to 60° (a few degrees higher would not do them any harm), 

 while the warmth may rise to 65° by day, and by sun heat to 

 70° ; during March, April, and May the night temperature may 

 range from 60° to 70°, and afterwards a few degrees higher will 

 not be injurious. From March to October is the best time 



