50 orchid-grower's manual, 



several causes assigned for this, but the rapacious appetite of 

 the collector is the principal one, the boxes being overcrowded 

 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. 



INSECTS. 



RCHIDS are liable to be injured by many sorts of 

 insects, such as red spider, thrips, mealy-bug, white 

 and brown scale, woodlice, cockroaches, and a small 

 snail, Helix alUaria. Cockroaches are among the greatest 

 plagues we have to deal with ; they will do a gi^eat deal of 

 mischief in a few nights if not sought after on every oppor- 

 tunity. The food they like best, is the young tender roots and 

 flower stems, and I have seen the roots of a plant completely 

 eaten off in one night by these depredators. The only way 

 to keep these insects under is by constantly looking after them, 

 both by night and day, searching for them in the evening 

 by candle-light, and in the daj^time by moving the pots and 

 baskets under which they harbour. They leave their hiding- 

 places in the evening, to seek after food, and it is then that 



