12 oechid-growee's manual. 



those species which grow at considerable altitudes, and have no decided 

 dry season, advantage should be taken of the time when their growth is 

 less active, so that there may be less inducement for them to start into 

 growth before reaching their destination. Plants which on arrival have 

 pushing pseudobulbs are also apt to lose their leading eyes, an accident 

 fatal to some Orchids, for many do not break well, if at all, from old bulbs. 



The species of Aerides, Saccolabium, Vanda, Angraecum, Fhalaenopsis, 

 and similar plants that have no fleshy bulbs to support, are best imported 

 after they have become established on flat pieces of wood, so that they can 

 be nailed to the sides of their travelling cases. We once received a con- 

 signment of Orchids from Manilla, including amongst other fine plants 

 some beautiful examples of Phalaenopsis 8cMlleriana, P. rosea, P. amahilis, 

 P. intermedia, Aerides quinquevulnerum, and Saccolabium violaceum, all 

 established and sent off in the way just described ; they had evidently 

 been growing some time before they were started for this country, for 

 on arrival their roots adhered firmly to the wood, and many of their 

 leaves were as green as though they had been in an Orchid house, 

 instead of having made such a long sea-voyage in a glass-topped case. 



One point of importance is to take care to secure the plants well to 

 the sides of the cases ; because, if allowed to roll or swing about, they 

 get bruised and soon rot, which is very vexing after all the trouble and 

 expense bestowed on importing them. In the case of the Phalaenopsis 

 Scliilleriana just referred to, some of the pieces of wood had become 

 loose, and these from rolling about during the journey had caused 

 injuries. In such cases, if any leaves are bruised during the journey, 

 the best way is to cut them off at once before decay begins ; for if 

 allowed to go on, there will be danger of the whole plant being destroyed. 

 With the cases just alluded to, we received also a close box filled with 

 Phalaenopsids packed in the dry bark of trees, which is a very bad 

 material for such tender-leaved plants, for when unpacked there was 

 not a green leaf to be seen ; the shaking of the rough packing material 

 during the long journey had destroyed all the foliage. If these had 

 been packed firmly in very dry soft moss, they would most likely have 

 travelled safely. 



We have received plants in good condition from India in close boxes, 

 packed in dry soft wood shavings ; while on the other hand many have 

 been entirely spoiled in that way. The cause of failure we attribute to 



