IMPORTING ORCHIDS 59 



and in it immerse the Orchid flowers, leaving them im- 

 mersed until shortly before they are required to be set up 

 again next day, repeating the same treatment every night. 

 Managed in this way, sprays of Odontoglossums and other 

 Orchids often last for weeks, and look better than freshly 

 cut immature flowers do even on the first day. Flowers 

 received by post should always be treated to the bath for 

 some hours, and, during immersion, any defects which are 

 reparable will be made good and the duration of the flowers 

 ensured, especially if the immersion be repeated as before 

 recommended. In this way Masdevallia, Sobralia, and 

 other fugacious flowers may be used for decorative purposes 

 for two evenings at least, but in the absence of immersion 

 they would wither in a very short time. It might also be 

 said that the Maidenhair Fern, also Asparagus plumosus, 

 and other foliage used with the cut Orchids are materially 

 benefited by immersion, the Maidenhair Fern especially ; 

 it should always be kept immersed until required for use. 



CHAPTER XVI 

 IMPORTING ORCHIDS 



MANY interesting Orchids have been imported by amateurs 

 who have friends or correspondents in the countries which 

 the Orchids inhabit, and many more would have arrived 

 alive if the persons who sent them possessed some know- 

 ledge of the best methods of collecting, packing, and for- 



