16 ORCHID- grower's MANUAL. 



<lestroyed. With the cases just alluded to, we received also a 

 close box filled with Phaltenopsids packed in the dry bark of 

 trees, which is a very bad material for such tender-leaved 

 plants, for when unpacked there was not a green leaf to be 

 seen ; the shaking of the rough packing material during the 

 long journey had destroyed all the foliage. If these had been 

 packed firmly in very dry soft moss, they would most likely 

 have travelled safely. 



We have received plants in good condition from India in 

 close boxes, packed in dry soft wood shavings ; while on the 

 other hand many have been entirely spoiled in that way. 

 The cause of failure we attribute to their not being packed in 

 a proper state ; the plants themselves, 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 pseudobulbs we have received 

 in close boxes from Brazil, packed in dry shavings, and have 

 found them, when opened, in good condition ; but care had 

 evidently been taken to pack them firmly so that they did not 

 shake about in the boxes 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 in which to get established. 



With the Ancectochili the best way is to tie some moss round 

 their roots and stems to keep them firm, leaving the foliage 

 free just above the moss ; they should occupy a small case by 

 themselves. These little things are very tender, and therefore 

 require a great deal of care to import them alive. On arrival, 

 pot them in some dry soil (see Ancectochilus), and put them 

 in a close place with little heat at first, until they begin 'to 

 grow ; afterwards pot them separately in small pots, and place 

 them under hand-glasses or in a frame, giving them the treat- 

 ment usually recommended for this class of plants. 



