14 orchid-grower's manual. 



white inside, but it must be allowed to become thoroughly dry before 

 being fastened down. 



During the last few years an immense quantity of Orchids have been 

 sent to this country, a large proportion of which have proved to be dead 

 upon arrival. This may perhaps be assigned to several causes, but the 

 rapacious appetite of the collector is the principal one, the boxes being 

 overcrowded by his sending home thousands instead of being satisfied 

 with a few dozens, and as a consequence all have arrived dead. Another 

 probable cause of this loss is, that they may have been gathered at the 

 wrong season. All this is sad to contemplate, involving as it may do the 

 extermination of the plants in their native homes, besides loss of time to 

 the collector, which, combined with the loss of money, causing vexation 

 and disappointment to the trade cultivator at home, have a most depress- 

 ing influence upon Orchid growing. Tliese deplorable results might be 

 avoided if collectors would be satisfied with a less number of plants, and 

 would attend to the few simple rules given in this chapter, adapting 

 them to suit the circumstances in which they find themselves placed. 



EISKS OF COLLECTING ORCHIDS. 



THERE is no doubt that there are many conditions, sometimes peculiar 

 ones, under which Orchids can be successfully grown ; and much 

 has yet to be learned regarding their requirements, the methods of 

 cultivation to which they maybe subjected, and the amount of endurance 

 they possess. The treatment they receive after their arrival from their 

 native habitats is also to them a matter of importance. Before thej- 

 come into our hands, they are found growing in a perfectly natural way, 

 without human aid, having, of course, their native climate to enjoy, 

 receiving heavy moisture by night, which they absorb and store up for 

 their immediate sustenance, and being also favoured with a rainy season 

 as well as a dry one. These different conditions of course exactly meet 

 their wants in their growing and resting seasons respectively. It must 

 be a delightful sight to witness them growing and flowering in this 

 natural way, throwing off" their sweet perfume to the breeze, while the 

 roots cling to the branches and stems of the trees where they abound, 

 and in which situations they mviltiply by means of the seeds scattered 



