74 obchid-growee's manual. 



can be plunged in handsome vases with ornamental glass tops ; 

 and when done with, be taken back into the heat. For room- 

 work let the foliage be dry, and there should not be much 

 moisture at the roots. I should not, however, advise them to 

 be used in the way just described on a frosty night ; but 

 during mild weather it will not do them any more harm than 

 taking them to a flower-show. It was for years my custom, 

 when hving with the late C. B. Warner, Esq., at Hoddesdon, 

 to show AnmctochiU at the Kegent's Park and Chiswick 

 exhibitions under bell-glasses, and I never found them injured 

 by such changes. I, however, always took care to prepare 

 them before starting, by not giving them too much water, and 

 by putting them in a cooler house, which should be done with 

 all plants of a tender kind before taking them to a show. 

 Few plants would be injured if treated in a proper way before 

 leaving a warm house. The plants in question were shown 

 for several years, and though that was many years ago, some 

 of the same stock stiU exist ; and these were grown without 

 bottom heat and under bell-glasses in the shade. I mention 

 this to show how many years Anactochili may be grown when 

 subjected to the treatment best suited for them. 



When out of health I have found that the best way is to 

 turn them out of their pots and examine their roots ; if in a 

 bad state below, wash the bottom of the plant, and repot in 

 fresh soil. Thus treated I have known them to improve and 

 do well for some time, provided they have not been allowed to 

 get too much out of order before being seen to ; if so, there 

 may be little hope that all the care bestowed on them will be 

 of any use. These plants, unlike some Orchids, have no thick 

 woody pseudobulbs to support them ; their small fleshy stems 

 require constant attention to keep them in a thriving state, but 

 vdth care they may be grown to perfection. The flowers axe 

 small and unattractive, and often injure the plants ; I therefore 



