* 
Phaius tuberculosus produces short fusiform fleshy stems, from which proceed 
the new growths, consisting of a tuft of plicate leaves, of light green colour, and 
with them the flower spike, which is erect, and has as yet only borne about 
half-a-dozen flowers on each. It blooms during January and February, and is difficult 
to establish and cultivate. As the plant gets better understood it may be found 
more easy to import, and other growers may then be more successful. Many of 
the imported plants have been lost through want of knowledge as to packing and 
other requirements of travel; there is little doubt that our collectors will be more 
successful as to these matters, and then we may expect the plants to reach Europe 
in safety. We know of many Orchids that were once considered difficult to import 
which are now obtained safely in quantities through being sent at the proper 
season. If plant collectors would study this point they would be very much more 
successful than they have hitherto been. Of course it is difficult for one to be on 
the spot at the moment when the plants have matured their bulbs, and so as to 
get them to this country before they start into growth, but if this could be done 
there would be more chance of saving them. 
There is another important point affecting cultivation, namely, that more complete 
information where and how the plants are found in their native habitats should be 
obtained and furnished. A great deal of the success in the development of all these 
and other plants depends on their proper treatment as regards the temperature and 
the supply of moisture. If they are found in low-lying districts they require quite a 
different treatment to that of those which occur in high and mountainous districts. 
Whenever we find a plant, as this is, difficult to cultivate, we should endeavour 
to find out which house suits it best; this may easily be done if we have different 
houses situate in different aspects, and even if there is but one house a great 
deal can be done by placing the plant in different positions in that house. If it 
does not succeed in one part it may do so in another, and should it happen that a 
plant is found to thrive well in a particular part, an endeavour should be made 
to keep it there during its season of growth, and should it be removed during the 
‘resting period let it be put back again the following season to make its growth. 
There is more than many growers imagine in this matter of setting plants in the 
places which they are found to like best. Some cultivators, because they have 
succeeded for a few years, think they can do as they please with a particular plant, 
but this is an error. We often meet with cases in which persons have grown their 
plants well for a few years, after which they go back. The cause is generally not 
far to seck. It may often be attributed to over watering, or to keeping the plants 
dry when they should have been moist, or to changing the temperature, or allowing — 
the plants to get dirty. There are various.other causes of non-success, such as 
acting on the advice of different persons, rushing suddenly into different modes of 
treatment, using different materials, or some other such-like practices. We have in 
our time seen many new schemes tried, and have to record that many of them 
have utterly failed. 
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