80 okchid-grower's manual. 



of Insects infesting tliem along with them, and these are 

 introduced with the imported plants, amongst which they har- 

 bour. Some of them prove to be terrible pests, feeding upon 

 such of the plants as suit their taste. They should therefore be 

 well looked after, and if possible destroyed before the plants are 

 allowed to enter our houses. We cannot be too particular in 

 this, for in it lies one of the chief elements of success ; if these 

 pests are not got rid of, they will in time destroy the foliage, 

 besides giving a most unsightly appearance to the plant, which 

 is very objectionable ; the flowers, moreover, will be destroyed 

 by these marauders, which is most annoying after all the care 

 and expense bestowed upon them. 



There is no doubt that in this matter prevention is better 

 than cure. Therefore these enemies must be kept in check, 

 by careful examination of the plants when they reach this 

 country, and for this purpose before admitting them in our 

 Orchid houses, they should be placed in a probationary struc- 

 ture, and should insects be found on them no rest should be 

 given them until they are entirely got rid of. We repeat what 

 we have often said on previous occasions : well wash every 

 part of the plant, leaves, bulbs, and roots, and then there will 

 be little chance of the insects escaping destruction. 



Imported plants are not by any means the only ones that 

 suffer from insect pests. We frequently see plants exposed 

 for sale in a disgracefully foul condition ; in fact, they look as 

 though water and sponge had never been near them. These 

 Orchids require quite as much looking after as the imported 

 ones, and the best plan of procedure is to thoroughly cleanse 

 the bulbs and foliage, shake them out of the pots, cut away all 

 the decayed roots, wash the sound roots in clean water, and then 

 pot them, in clean pots and in new material according to the 

 directions given for performing this operation. This if 

 efficiently done will be a sure means of eradicating the pests, 



