74 orchid-gkower's manual. 



PACKING ORCHIDS FOR EXHIBITIONS. 



N transportiBg Orchidaceous plants to exhibitions 

 they require great care in packing and tying, for 

 many of them are very tender. Their flowers in 

 many instances are large and waxy, and some of them require 

 more packing than others. It is extremely annoying to have 

 a fine specimen plant spoiled, during its journey to the place 

 of exhibition, in consequence of its not being carefully packed, 

 when with a little more care it would have travelled safely to 

 any distance. In fact, distance is of very little consequence, 

 if the packing is well done. This was proved in a most 

 extraordinary manner in the spring of 1869, by Mr. R. 

 Warner, who sent upwards of fifty specimen Orchids, from 

 his gardens at Broomfield, to the International Horticultural 

 Exhibition at St. Petersburg!!. These plants were carefully 

 packed in close cases, and sent by rail the whole journey, 

 saving the short run across the Channel by steamer, eight 

 days being occupied in the transport. When unpacked and 

 staged, they were in excellent condition, having suffered 

 during the journey no more than they would have done in 

 the houses at home. That these plants should have travelled 

 to St. Petersburgh in such excellent condition, is undoubtedly 

 the greatest feat in connection with horticultural exhibitions 

 that has ever been accomplished, especially considering that 

 they were all large plants — amongst them PhalcBnopsis 

 Scliilleriatia, with a hundred expanded blossoms ; P. grandi- 

 fiora, with about half the number; Vandas, with numerous 

 spikes ; Trichopilia crispa, with a hundred open flowers ; 

 Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Odontoglossums, Cypripediiims, 

 Aerides, and several other genera, the whole being profusely 

 bloomed. A remarkable proof of what care will do with even 



