WARDIAN CASES AND FERNERIES. 35 



of the column, and with a pair of pincers place the pollen masses 

 on the stigma, when it instantly disappears. The orchids which 

 have been most extensively fertilized in cultivation, are Cypripe- 

 clium, Calantho, and Vanilla. The fruit of the last has been pro- 

 duced in considerable quantity at Kew Garden. 



Mr. Rand had had some of his orchids fertilized, probably by in- 

 sects getting into the house, as very few fructify themselves. The 

 LcL'lia exhibited would require more moisture than is ordinarily 

 found in the air of a greenhouse. The best plan would be to 

 separate a portion of the greenhouse by a glass partition. His 

 orchid house, although but twenty-five feet square, contained two 

 hundred and fifty species. 



Mr. Rand also exhibited a j)lant of Cirrliopetalum Medusce, the 

 generic name of which is derived from kirros, tawn}^, and petalon, 

 a petal. The flowers are small, but so numerous in the spike, and 

 two of the three sepals are so ver}'^ much lengthened, as to give the 

 spike the appearance of a head with long, dishevelled hair, whence 

 the specific name. The bud comes up in a small sheath like the bud 

 of a pink, and the flowers are twisted up very tightl3^ Being a 

 native of Singapore it requires a great deal of heat and moisture. 

 All orchids require good drainage and are impatient of sour soil. 



MEETING FOR DISCUSSION. 



Saturday, January 29, 1876, 



The chair was filled bj' William C. Strong, Chairman of the 

 Committee on Publication and Discussion, and the following paper 

 on Wardian Cases was read by the writer. 



Wardian Cases and Ferneries. I. 



BY W. H. HALLIDAY. 



Every one should have a hobby, says Prime in his preface to 

 " I Go a Fishing." Mine has been, for a dozen years, Wardian 

 Cases and Ferneries. 



How I came by this hobby I am here at this time to tell you. 

 Several years ago, looking over some books on floriculture, I came 



