HOT ORCHIDS. 141 
Sandertana is “bad business.” It is not common, 
and it grows on the very top of the highest trees, 
which must be felled to secure the treasure ; 
and of those gathered but a small proportion 
survive. In the first place, the agent must 
employ natives, who are paid so much per plant, 
no matter what the size—a bad system, but they 
will allow no change. It is evidently their interest 
to divide any “specimen” that will bear cutting 
up ; if the fragments bleed to death, they have 
got their money meantime. Then, the Manilla 
steamers call at Mindanao only once a month. 
Three months are needed to get together plants 
enough to yield a fair profit. Atthe end of that 
time a large proportion of those first gathered will 
certainly be doomed—Vandas have no pseudo- 
bulbs to sustain their strength. Steamers run 
from Manilla to Singapore every fortnight. Ifthe 
collector be fortunate he may light upon a captain 
willing to receive his packages ; in that case he 
builds structures of bamboo on deck, and spends 
the next fortnight in watering, shading, and venti- 
lating his precious ¢vouvaz/les, alternately. But 
captains willing to receive such freight must be 
waited for too often. At Singapore it is necessary 
to make a final overhauling of the plants—to their 
woeful diminution. This done, troubles recom- 
