PACKING OECHIDS FOR EXHIBITIONS. 75 



the most delicate flowers was given in the case of the plant of 

 Odontoglossum Alexandras, exhibited in this collection, which, 

 after standing at the St. Petersburgh Exhibition for a fortnight 

 was again packed up and exhibited three weeks later at the 

 Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens at Kensington, with 

 the loss of only one or two flowers. 



We have had a good deal of this work to do, and a few hints 

 on the subject to beginners may be of practical use. Some 

 kinds bear carrying much better than others. Phctjus 

 Wallichii and P. gmndifulms are both bad plants for travelUng, 

 if not well packed. We have seen fine plants bi'ought to 

 difierent flower shows with their flowers completely spoiled for 

 want of proper packing. On the other hand we have shown 

 P. Wallichii for several years at the Chiswick and Regent's 

 Park Exhibitions, and always managed to convey it without 

 any injury. In preparing them we put a strong stick to each 

 flower spike, the sticks being long enough to go firmly into 

 the earth. They should be placed at the back part of the 

 flowers, and should stand one or two inches above the flower 

 spike ; some wadding should then be fastened round the stick 

 with the smooth or glazed side towards the flowei'S so that 

 it does not cling, and the flower spike tied firmly to it, putting 

 more wadding or fine paper round every flower stalk, and 

 tying each firmly to the flower spike. Begin at the top of the 

 spike, and tie every flower separately, so that they do not 

 touch one another. The leaves must not be allowed to rub 

 against the flowers. On arriving at the end of their journey, 

 untie them, remove the wadding, and tie them out in the 

 proper form. In tying, care should be taken not to rub the 

 flowers. 



Saccolahiums and Aerides do not require so much packing. 

 It is sufiicient to put two or three sticks to each spike — one 

 at each end, and one in the centre, if the spike be loug, or 



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