16 orchid-grower's manual. 



injurious, but in this case the eyes must be plump, and' then, when 

 placed in a warm house where there is some moisture, they will soon 

 make plants with fine bulbs, and they may also flower. If the plants 

 are allowed to make growth on their journey, they will generally be 

 found to damp or rot off; and although some Orchids which have strong 

 bulbs produce plump eyes from the back bulbs, and will break away 

 freely, yet in the case of the delicate kinds their offshoots will break 

 weakly and pine away. Such as these require close watching, which 

 those who delight in their pets will not fail to bestow on them, and 

 there is then a chance of saving them. 



Our ways and means of imitating nature are very limited, but we do 

 succeed in very Hiany cases, although so large a number — hundreds of 

 them — are lost through the rough treatment of which we have spoken, 

 and for which there is really no help ; for in the plants' native countries 

 our collectors have to undergo much hardship and privation in order to 

 secure for us these floral gems, and many brave lives have been lost in 

 the endeavour to do so. Some of our most clever botanists and collectors 

 have sacrificed their lives in endeavouring to procure for us these 

 treasures ; hence to those who have survived and still persevere to send 

 us new consignments, we owe many thanks. No one knows the trouble 

 and expense of collecting Orchids but those who have gone or sent out 

 men in search of these precious plants ; they deserve all they get and 

 more for the risk they run, since their attempts are frequently fruitless, 

 for it often happens that after collecting for months the plants are all 

 lost, not through their neglect, but from unavoidable mishaps and 

 unfavourable conditions. For example, the cool Orchids have to come 

 through hot countries before they are shipped, and then long delays 

 often occur to lengthen the time taken by the voyage. Again, when 

 coming from a hot climate they often reach this country at the cold 

 season. In fact, none but those who are at the expense of importing 

 Orchids from these distant lands have any idea of the risks incurred. 



Another risk to which importers are subject relates to the sale of the- 

 plants; many have to be sold privately, others at public auctions. If 

 they are new and fine species they generally sell well, and should there 

 be buyers for that particular class, they frequently realise a fair sum, 

 whilst many other good kinds may be sold at prices which are not 

 sufficient to pay the expenses of getting them home. New species may 



