10 THE ORCHID-GROWER'S MANUAL. 



will be danger of the whole plant being destroyed. With 

 the cases just alluded to I had also a close box filled 

 with Phaloenopsis packed in the dry bark of trees, which 

 I consider a bad material for such tender-leaved plants ; 

 when I unpacked this box there was not a green leaf to 

 be seen, the shaking of the long journey, combined with 

 the rough material just named, had destroyed all the foliage. 

 If these had been packed in very dry soft moss they would 

 most likely have come safe. I have received plants in good 

 condition from India in close boxes packed in dry soft 

 shavings, while on the other hand I have also seen many 

 spoiled in that way. The cause of failure I attribute to 

 their not being packed in a proper state ; the plants them- 

 selves, as well as the material employed, should be well dried 

 before packing, and care should be taken to avoid bruises, 

 which often prove fatal. Cattleyas and plants with similar 

 pseudo-bulbs I have received in close boxes from the Bra- 

 zils packed in dry shavings, and have found them, when 

 opened, in good condition; but care had evidently been 

 taken to pack then firmly in the boxes, so that they did not 

 roll about on their journey. 



The best time of year for receiving Orchids in this country- 

 is, if possible, the spring, in order that they may have the 

 summer before them to get established. 



With Anoectochili the best way is to tie some moss round 

 their roots and stems to keep them firm, leaving the 

 foliage just above the moss, and they should occupy a 

 small case by themselves : these little things are very 

 tender, therefore they require a great deal of care to keep 

 them right. On arrival, pot them in some dry soil (see 

 Ancectochili), and put them in a close place with little heat 

 at first, until they begin to grow ; afterwards pot them in 

 small pots, and place them under hand-glasses or in a 

 frame, giving them the treatment usually recommended for 

 this class of plant. 



