IMPORTING ORCHIDS 61 



once to a shipping agent at the port of embarkation, to 

 catch a steamer previously timed, and to consign the case 

 or cases to a reliable shipping agent in England. 



Another cause of mortality in Orchids during transit 

 arises from the mistaken notion that the plants require to 

 be prepared by drying before packing, and this practice is 

 continued so long and rigorously in many cases that the 

 plants are half dead before they are despatched. 



No such preparation is needed ; the plants should be 

 packed at once after collecting, and any moisture which 

 may be in them will escape through the small holes in the 

 case. The parcels post is available from many parts of the 

 tropics, and from some places it is the only reliable means 

 of getting Orchids over in a reasonable time. But it is 

 only available for small lots, and for these it forms the best 

 means of forwarding. Unfortunately, there are drawbacks 

 even to these means, for the parcels, especially from some 

 ports, are frequently stowed in hot chambers on board the 

 mail steamer, the object being to keep the mails dry, and 

 plant-life is destroyed by the excessive heat. 



Epiphytal Orchids with pseudo-bulbs, such as Cattleyas, 

 Lselias, and Epidendrums, if collected at or near the 

 proper season, require very little packing. The cases 

 being ready, it is necessary to place a layer of plants 

 at the bottom, with their heads all facing one way. The 

 next layer is placed with the heads the reverse way, and 

 so on until the box is full of plants firmly pressed in, 

 but not sufficiently close to cause injury. During the 

 packing a few struts of wood should be placed across 

 the inside and fastened by nails driven into their ends from 

 the outside ; these will prevent the plants from forming a 



