148 MASSACHUSETTS IIORTICUT.TURAL SOCIETY. 



week, will certninly keep a house clean from these pests. I may 

 add that tobacco stems placed under the benches and kept moist 

 are invaluable preventives of thrip and green fly ; and they must 

 be replenished when the strength departs. Most tender ferns 

 will, however, be injured by this process ; nevertheless, I can 

 strongly recommend it for orchids. Plenty of fresh air is one of 

 the best preventives of all kinds of thrip, green fly, and red spider. 

 If growers start with clean plants, they can save themselves great 

 trouble by the "ounce of prevention" in the way of mild fumiga- 

 tion. It is easier to keep out insect pests than to get them out 

 when once established. White scale does more injury tiian is 

 credited to it. Nothing but careful sponging and brushing "with 

 soapsuds or insecticide will eradicate it. It is an insidious pest, 

 and ruins the plant before an inexperienced person will detect it. 

 Ever}' orchid ought to be sponged over with clean water two or 

 three times a year ; but this is a rule not as generally regarded as 

 it should be, for in manj- collections dust and dirt are allowed to 

 accumulate upon the leaves, to the great detriment of the plants. 

 There are many other points in orchid growing which could be 

 taken up and discussed in this paper, but a grower will find them 

 of minor consideration in comparison with those I have mentioned. 

 Personal knowledge of details is of the greatest value, but the be- 

 ginner as well as the old hand at orchid culture must keej) in sight 

 the four prime requisites of success which I have stated, if they 

 expect to maintain their orchids in robust health for any period of 

 years. 



DiSCOSSION. 



Rev. A. B. Muzzej' was ready to say that eminent patience is 

 genius, — he knew no better definition of that word. Think of it, 

 that in the culture of orchids a man has devoted nineteen years to 

 a single experiment ! Now let us carr}- that same spirit into the 

 work of this Society, and we shall have something of the glorious 

 beauty in this specimen* before us, as the result. He bade the 

 Society God speed in all its attempts to promote horticulture ; and 

 moved a vote of thanks to the essayist for his patient, thorough, 



* A fine, large plant, abtimlantly bloomed, of Dendrohium Wnjdianiitu, 

 from A. W. Spencer. 



