46 THE ORCHID-GROWER'S MANUAL. 



just described on a frosty night ; but during mild weather it 

 will not do them any more harm than taking them to a flower- 

 show. When with C. B. Warner, Esq., at Hoddesdon, I 

 showed Ancectochili at Kegent's Park and Chiswick, under bell- 

 glasses for years, and I never found them injured by such 

 changes. I, however, always took care to prepare them 

 before starting, by not giving them too much moisture, and 

 putting them in a cooler house, which is the best way for all 

 plants of a tender kind before taking them to a show. Few 

 plants would be injured if treated in a proper way before 

 leaving a warm house. The plants in question were shown 

 for several years, and though that was more than six years 

 ago Mr. Warner has some of the same stock in his collection 

 at Stratford in fine condition : and these are grown without 

 bottom heat and under bell-glasses in the shade. I mention 

 this to show how many years Ancectochili may be grown when 

 subjected to the treatment best suited for them. I think 

 the stock at Hoddesdon has lasted sixteen years or more, and 

 I have no doubt, if treated in the same way, it may keep on 

 for years to come. 



When out of health I have found that the best way is to 

 turn them out of their pots and examine their roots ; if in a 

 bad state below, wash the bottom of the plant, and repot 

 in fresh soil. Thus treated I have known them to improve 

 and do well for some time, provided they have not been 

 allowed to get too much out of order before being seen to ; 

 if so, there may be little hopes of all care bestowed on them 

 being of any use. These plants, unlike some Orchids, 

 have no thick woody pseudo-bulbs to support them ; their 

 small fleshy stems require constant attention to keep them in 

 a thriving state, but with care they may be grown in perfec- 

 tion. The flowers are small and unattractive, and often 

 injure the plants; I, therefore, always pinch them off when 

 they appear, and doing so induces them to break freely. 



The treatment they require is a warm house or pit, where 



