72 , ORCHID- grower's manual. 



Under this recjime exliibitiou specimens — real specimens — 

 will be produced, and the necessity for putting small ones 

 together to form a mass will be avoided. To remove even 

 these smaller plants disturbs their roots at a time when they 

 require to be making progress in order to perfect their next 

 season's growth, and is not therefore desirable. Plants when 

 in vigorous health are less likely to be attacked by insects, 

 which is an important item in their cultivation. We give full 

 details on the mode of battling with insects in a chapter 

 devoted to these pests. 



TREATMENT PREPAEATORY TO EXHIBITION. 



HERE are many cultivators of Orchids who object 

 to send their plants to a public exhibition solely 

 because they are afraid that they will receive 

 injury ; but these fears are quite groundless if a moderate 

 degree of care is exercised. We have been exhibitors of these 

 plants for nearly forty years, and during that period have had 

 very few plants injured by exposure at flower shows. That 

 some valuable Orchids have been damaged at these places we 

 know full well, but the fault has usually been in the want of 

 due care in their preparation. 



It is our practice to move the plants to a cool dry house or 

 room for a few days previous to the show. If the plants are 

 growing in the hottest house, we move them to the cooler one. 

 During this time they should be allowed only just enough 

 water to keep them slightly moist. When it is probable that 

 the plants will come into blossom earlier than is wished, the 

 time of flowering may be successfully retarded by taking them 

 to a cooler part of the house, or even putting them in a 



