40 



TEEATMENT OF NEWLY- IMPORTED OECHIDS. 



Catesetum, Epidendra, &c., arrive in good health sufficient to 

 stock a Crystal Palace. In a very few months the whole, or 

 nearly the whole, except a few miserable bits, were dead. They 

 were laid on a platform kept very wet and in great heat great 

 mistakes, indeed, in my opinion. 



Now, if any of our readers should be fortunate enough to 

 import a lot of Orchids, the first thing they should do should 

 be to cut away all and every part that is dead, then examine 

 every part for insects, and use the proper methods to destroy 

 them. Then for the upright-blooming species procure a number 

 of flat logs and fasten the plants to them. Do not cut up the 

 large specimens fasten them on blocks just as they have arrived. 

 If there are a number of small bits that are alive, I advise them 

 all, or as many of them as may be convenient, to be tied to a 

 round log of a considerable length. Stanhopeas when they are 

 imported require a different treatment. I once received a large 

 mass just as it had been torn off its native bed. I cleansed 

 it and placed it upon a simple raft of rods large enough to 

 hold it. I put no moss or compost about the pseudo- 

 bulbs, only fixing a wire at each corner, and, drawing them 

 together, I then formed a loop, and thereby suspended the 

 mass and raft to the roof. A great number of new shoots 

 soon made their appearance, and the year after several flowers 

 were produced. It proved to be one of the best varieties of 

 Stanhopea tigrina. 



Till shoots and roots are produced, very little water should be 

 given, and the heat should be rather below that given to esta- 

 blished plants. It is a great mistake to give stimulants in liberal 

 quantities to Orchids that have had a long journey, perhaps shut 

 up in boxes or Wardian Cases, and arriving in a shrivelled-up 

 condition. The treatment should be analogous to that given to 

 a sick or half- starved animal just enough at first to revive the 

 dormant living power, and to induce, as it were, a gradual return 

 to a healthy and growing state. 



When fresh roots and new shoots are produced, then the im- 



