OECHIDS ON BLOCKS. 11 



board at the back and ends, placed in a warmed shed or pot- 

 ting-room, handy to the Orchid-house, and if possible with a 

 door opening into the house, so that the plants when removed to 

 be potted will not be exposed to a sudden change of temperature, 

 will complete the list of necessary apparatus for the Orchid- 

 grower. 



OBCHIDS ON BLOCKS. There are many of the most rare and 

 very lovely Orchids that do not thrive well in either pots or 

 baskets. In their native habitats they are found growing on 

 branches of trees, the roots clinging to the branches or swinging 

 in the air, from which they appear to draw their nutriment. We 

 imitate this mode of natural growth by placing such plants on 

 logs of wood suspended from the roof of the Orchid-house. I 

 have used various kinds of wood for this purpose, and from 

 many years of experience I have come to the conclusion that the 

 branches of the Robinia pseudo-acacia are the best for them. It 

 is the common hardy Acacia, commonly so called, a tree now 

 well known. I use it without the bark, which easily peels ofl 

 when the branches have been cut off for a year or so. The next 

 best, when the Acacia cannot be procured, are branches of the 

 Cork tree, then of the Oak, and lastly, of the Elder tree, any ol 

 which will answer the purpose. The Cork branches I have used 

 with the bark on, because the bark of that tree does not so easily 

 decay. The objection to logs with bark on is, that when the 

 bark decays woodlice and other insects secrete themselves behind 

 the bark, and issue thence at night to prey upon the young roots, 

 shoots, or flower-stems. 



The way to fasten the plants to the logs is easy enough. The 

 log being ready, with a piece of wire fastened to it to suspend it 

 by, then have ready some small wire and some green moss. Hold 

 the plant with the hand close to the log, and also some moss, 

 then wind the wire round the log, catching hold of the plant at 

 the same time, but be careful not to let the wire press too tightly 

 on the plant. The part best to lay the wire upon is that named 

 the rhizoma, or root-stock, which generally is of a hard woody 



