RISKS OF COLLECTING ORCHIDS. 19 



to them new vigour, thus preparing them to enter upon and 

 endure the alternating season of drought. Their foliage helps 

 to direct the natural moisture and to retain it about the roots, 

 which are thus enabled to grow more freely, and to fasten them- 

 selves securely to the branches and stems of the trees on which 

 they become located. 



In their native habitats Orchids have many drawbacks to 

 their growth ; they have insects, as we have in our houses, but 

 far more numerous ; and they have the extremes of weather to 

 contend with. The plants are generally found on the high 

 trees at the margins of the forests, where they are subject 

 to rough winds and furious storms ; in fact, large trees are 

 often blown down loaded with the beautiful blossoms of the 

 plants growing on them, and are frequently destroyed in this 

 way. The stock, however, is generally maintained by the 

 seedlings, which are found to be much more abundant in 

 some localities than in others. 



It often happens that, when being removed from their 

 native resorts, the plants are injured by the collectors and by 

 the natives whom they employ to gather them from the high 

 trees and other places difficult of access. They are frequently 

 packed in sacks and transported on the backs of mules, in 

 order to reach the sea-port for shipment ; and the native men 

 who help to pack them are very indifferent as to how the 

 bulbs and foliage, which require so much care, are handled. 

 The voyage these plants have to undergo is often very detri- 

 mental to them. Sometimes they are placed on a part of the 

 vessel where they get too much di-y heat, or where they may 

 get the salt water on them, and these injuries often cause them 

 to rot, or the very life to be shrivelled out of them. A good 

 proportion of the importations, however, seem to endure, 

 notwithstanding the treatment they receive after their arrival 

 here, though passing through hands that have no love what- 



