AN ORCHID FARM. IgI 
find pleasing curiosities also, tropic beetles, and 
insects, and cocoons. Dendrobiums in especial are 
favoured by moths ; D. Wardianum is loaded with 
their webs, empty as a rule. Hitherto the men 
have preserved no chrysalids, but at this moment 
they have a few, of unknown species. 
The farmer gets strange bits of advice sometimes, 
and strange offers of assistance. Talking of insects 
reminds him of a letter received last week. Here 
it is :— 
S1rs,—I have heard that you are large growers of orchids ; 
am I right in supposing that in their growth or production 
you are much troubled with some insect or caterpillar which 
retards or hinders their arrival at maturity, and that these 
insects or caterpillars can be destroyed by small snakes? I 
have tracts of land under my occupation, and if these small 
snakes can be of use in your culture of orchids you might 
write, as I could get you some on knowing what these might 
be worth to you. 
Yours truly 
Thence we mount to the potting-rooms, where a 
dozen skilled workmen try to keep pace with the 
srowth of the imported plants ; taking up, day by 
day, those which thrust out roots so fast that 
postponement is injurious. The broad middle 
tables are heaped with peat and moss and leaf- 
mould and white sand. Atcounters on either side 
unskilled labourers are sifting and mixing, while 
boys come and go, laden with pots and baskets of 
