18 THE ORCHID-GROWER'S MANUAL. 



the subject to young beginners may be of use to them. Some 

 kinds bear removing much better than others. Phajus Wal- 

 lichi and grandifolius are both bad plants for travelling, if not 

 well packed. I have seen fine plants brought to different 

 flower-shows, with their flowers completely spoiled for want 

 of careful packing, though I have shown P. Wallichi several 

 years at the Chiswick and Regent's Park exhibitions, and 

 they have always been conveyed without injury. In pre- 

 paring them, I first get some strong sticks, and put one 

 to each flower-spike ; the sticks should be long enough to 

 go into the earth, so as to remain firm ; they should be 

 placed at the back part of the flowers, and stand one or two 

 inches above the flower-spike ; then get some wadding and 

 tie up the stick, afterwards tie the flower-spike firmly to the 

 stick, add more wadding, putting it round 'every flower-stalk, 

 and tie them firm to the flower-spike : begin at the top of 

 the spike, and tie every flower separately, so that the flowers 

 do not touch one another. The leaves must not be allowed 

 to rub against the flowers. On arriving at the end of their 

 journey, untie them, remove the wadding, and tie them in 

 the proper form. In tying, care should be taken not to rub 

 the flowers. 



Saccolabiums and Aerides do not require so much packing. 

 It is sufficient to put two or three sticks to each spike, one 

 at each end, and one in the centre, if the spike be long ; but 

 if short, two will be sufficient. The stick, which should only 

 be long enough to support the spikes in the drooping way in 

 which they grow, should be fixed firmly in the basket or pot; 

 a small piece of wadding should be placed on the top of the 

 stick, to which the spike should be firmly tied. This will 

 be sufficient to ensure safety. The wadding should not be 

 allowed to touch the top part of the flowers, as it will stick to 

 them, and be very hard to remove. 



Vandas require more packing, their flowers being larger, 

 and further apart ; place some wadding between each flower. 



