150 MASSACHUSETTS IIOKTICULTUIIAL SOCIETY. 



the thrip was pretty well eradicated; so that he could bear testi- 

 mouy to support Mr. Robinsou's recommendatiou of tobacco 

 stems for extiri>ating all insects that can l)o killed b}' fumigation. 



His own experience in regard to running up the heat of orchid 

 houses is that, if the weather is so cold that the temperature can- 

 not be run nj) without great fire heat, it is better to let the day heat 

 remain at fifty-five degrees, rather than attempt to raise it ten 

 degrees. Saturation of the air with moisture is essential in orchid 

 culture. Their native homes are in regions where moisture is con- 

 stantly around them, and the combined sunlight and fire heat of 

 artificial culture are injurious to them, if they have no atmospheric 

 moisture to counteract it. It is better to allow the temperature to 

 remain low ratlier than attempt to run it up. 



Hon. Marshall P. Wilder could not allow the subject to be closed 

 without saying that this paper is one of the most able and elab- 

 orate, on the growth ot orchids, that he had ever heard. It is also 

 a very valuable addition to floricultural history ; and it will be so 

 esteemed in the Old World, from whence we receive so many of our 

 fine orchids. He did not doubt that we should see it copied in the 

 leading horticultural journals in Europe. Mr. Beard had stated 

 that the speaker presented the first orchid exhibited in this Society. 

 This was very nearly filty years ago, but he well remembered the 

 plant ; it was Oncidium Jiexnosum. It covered a large space on 

 the wall of his greenhouse ; and, if he recollected rightly, had a 

 hundred and seventy-six individual flowers. He was surprised to 

 see that so few of the collectors to whom Mr. Beard had referred 

 had a large number of Oncidiums. He believed that Mr. Beard 

 had reported Mr. Hunnewell to have about a hundred species and 

 varieties ; if so, that is probably the largest collection of On- 

 cidiums in the country. 



This paper shows how im i:ensely a subject may grow in the 

 course of half a centur}'. Beginning with that little plant of On- 

 cidium which had been spoken of, these immense collections have 

 grown up since that time in our country. He might say that the 

 orchids are the most gorgeous plants in creation ; and he felt ex- 

 tremely obliged to our generous contrilnitors, who do so nuich to 

 increase the interest in that order by their exhibitions here, — to 

 Mr. Ames, Mi. Hunnewell, Mr. Payson, Mr. Pratt, and otliers, 

 who spare no expense whenever they can add anything beautiful 

 and valuable to their collections. Mr. Ames told the si)caker that 



