72 Collection and Transportation of Orchids. 



It is not easy to collect orchids which grow upon the lofty trees, where 

 their presence is only known by the brilliancy of the flowers or their 

 powerful perfume. To climb them is almost impossible, on account of 

 the height; and not unattended with danger, because of the poisonous 

 snakes which frequently lurk in the crotches of the branches, or hide in 

 the hollows of the trunk. 



The only means of getting them is to cut down the tree, which is by no 

 means an easy task. The wood is like iron, and turns the edge of the 

 best-tempered axe: this, together with the immensity of the tree, presents 

 almost insuperable obstacles to collectors. When, however, the tree has 

 once f?llen, the fall dislodges the reptiles which may have harbored there ; 

 and the plants can then be collected without danger. The collection, how- 

 ever, cal's for care and precaution. If the branches on which the plants 

 are should be broken or rotten, the mass of the plant should be detached, 

 breaking or bruising the roots as little as possible. If the branch is sound, 

 it may be cut on each side of the plant, taking care to leave sufficient 

 wood for its growth on its arrival. It is noticeable that plants, which, in 

 our stoves, are still grown on the same branch on which they naturally 

 grew, are more vigorous, flower oftener, and give stronger spikes of bloom 

 and better flowers, than those which have been changed. Where the plants 

 grow on branches too large and heavy for removal, the bark with the plant 

 attached may be removed, or a portion of the branch sawed off. The 

 roots of the plant should, in every case, be preserved as far as possible, 

 and should not be detached from the bark or wood. The mosses and 

 other little plants which grow with the orchids should in no case be re- 

 moved from them. They help to keep the plants in good condition during 

 the voyage of importation, and are in themselves often valuable additions 

 to our stove-plants. In this wa}', many interesting begonias, ferns, and 

 bromelias have been imported. 



It is important that collectors should use all possible discrimination in 

 the selection of plants, and, as far as possible, ascertain the character of 

 the flower; though, as we have said, none should be discarded because the 

 flower is unknown. The species most desirable for our hot-houses are 

 those with brilliant flowers ; but many with insignificant bloom may be 

 most interesting to the botanist. These should be preserved in herbaria, 

 and notes taken of their peculiarities of growth and location, in order, as 



