54 okchid-grot\^r's manual. 



and on some days none at all. It never showed tlie least 

 decay until the 16th of May, when it was for some purpose 

 or other put into the greenhouse, and our gardener sprinkled 

 water over it along with the other plants. Next morning 

 i was shocked to see the flowers all with brown spots and 

 withering. On the 18th May I took it back to Mr. Veitch, 

 still in full bloom (seven spikes), to bear testimony to its 

 condition, and it lasted, though then much injured, a week 

 on the stand by the seed-room in their place. This experi- 

 ment induced me to try again. On the 18th December, 1861, 

 I brought down to this place two fine plants of the Ly caste, and 

 two plants of Barheria Skinneri, both in full bloom. Having 

 been absent (with the exception of three days in January) 

 since, I have had no control over them, but my sister followed 

 the same plan as at Hillingdon, only with the Barkcrias, 

 which are attached to blocks, dipping the whole block into 

 water for a few minutes every four or five days, according 

 as we have much or little sun, and as the plants are now 

 before me I give you their condition. One of the Barkerias 

 is as perfect as the day I brought it here ; the other has all 

 gone off within the last few days. One Lycaste is perfect, 

 and as beautiful as the day I brought it here ; the other has 

 lost one fiower, I fear by some accident, the other flower still 

 good, but evidently a little 'shady'; this plant has two 

 flower stems coming on, and would bloom in a fortnight if 

 we pushed them by more moisture. I expect frost has got 

 on it after watering, for it stands close to the window in the 

 drawing-room, and this room, though smaller, is similarly 

 treated to the one at Hillingdon — fii-es in the afternoon and 

 evenings, with a southern aspect. What a treat to me is this, 

 and I think you should know it, for people have said — * I love 

 Orchids, but hate the stew-pans one has to view them in.' 

 "It is clear that for Ly castes and Barkerias ' stew-pans ' 



