58 orghid-grower's manual. 



MODE OF MAKING OECHID BASKETS. 



LOCKS and baskets are most natural for true air- 

 plants, such as Vandas, Saccolahiums, Aerides, An- 

 grcecums, PhalcBiioyses, &c. When planted in baskets 

 or on blocks, these send out their roots much more vigorously 

 into the air, and suck up the moisture, whereas, if their roots 

 are covered too much, they are very apt to rot. Yarious 

 materials are used for forming baskets. Sometimes they are 

 made of copper wire, which is veiy durable. Others are made 

 from the ordinaiy material in use for making flower-pots — • 

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

 Mr. Anderson, gardener to T. Dawson, Esq., of Meadow Bank, 

 has 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 

 inistic appearance, and, besides, the roots like to cling to the 

 wood. 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 according to the size of the 

 basket required. 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 four 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 



