58 GENERAL REVIEW OF THE ORCITIPE.E. 



all cases. It is thence evident that could a sufficiently compre- 

 hensive knowledge of the iniuute structure of the vegetative organs 

 of orchids be brought within the reach of orchid growers generally, 

 its influence for good in the cultural treatment of the plants would 

 be of an enduring kind. Dr. Masters remarks that : — 



" In tlie leaves of orchids we have the component structures apparently 

 arranged with reference to the conditions under which the plant grows 

 naturally. Some grow in full sunshine, and are constructed accordingly. 

 Some thrive in diffused light. Some bear a long period of drought 

 uninjured ; otliers could not endure the privation of water even for a 

 few hours. Some are so constructed as to adapt themselves to varied 

 conditions with little trouble, and these, of course, are the plants the 

 gardener finds it easy to cultivate. In others the adjustment is so 

 delicate that they cannot sufter any change without inconvenience ; 

 these are the plants the gardener has a difficulty in keeping alive, and 

 which even in their native countries are dying out, elbowed out by 

 their more robust and less exacting brethren on the principle of the 

 survival of tlie fittest." 



If then, the conditions noted in the foregoing quotation are made 

 manifest ia the leaves of orchids by their minute structure, and we 

 have every reason to believe that this structure is a part of the 

 result of their " environment " and that it enables them to perform 

 their important functions to the best advantage of the plant^ it 

 must be worth while to ascertain what that structure is, in order 

 to obtain reliable data for cultural treatment. Confessedly imperfect 

 as were the investigations of Dr. Masters up to the date of publica- 

 tion (and so far as we know, very little has been done by others in 

 the same direction since), their import and their intrinsic value to 

 cultivators when they shall have been more elaborately worked out 

 is, however, so evident that we have been induced to continue 

 the examination with the view of adding something more to our 

 knowledge of the subject, and with the hope of inducing others 

 who may have leisure at their disposal to take it up more 

 comprehensively. 



The sections of leaves, stems and roots that are here illustrated 

 were made for us by Mr. N. E. Brown, of the Kew Herbarium. 

 For three other illustrations we are indebted to the kindness of the 

 proprietors of the Gardeners'' Chronicle, and all bear ample testimony 

 to the accuracy and care with which they have been executed. 



