10 orchid-grower's manual. 



until they get established, or show some signs of being of use to those 

 who feel disposed to pay handsomely for them. The smaller buyers 

 also have their losses, being assured by those who import the plants 

 that they have had them in their possession, and exposed in their 

 Orchid houses, for so long a time, while the fact is that many are kept 

 from the light. Moreover, when they are sold, it is not merely the 

 cold weather that meets them as they come from their native country, 

 that destroys them, but exposing them at sales and keeping them in 

 cold places, after they have arrived safely. We have seen nearly every 

 plant of an importation lost through this treatment. Take, for instance, 

 the East Indian Orchids, when sold in winter, and to all appearance 

 in good health, having their green foliage upon them, but when they 

 are put into light and warm houses the leaves turn black or brown, 

 and fall off; then the heart of the plant goes, and it becomes quite 

 useless ; whereas, if the plant had been sent home in spring or summer, 

 there would have been a chance of saving it if the leaves had been 

 on it and it had not been exposed to the cold. Such importations are 

 not only a loss to the buyers, but also to the collector, as there are 

 many lots that cannot be sold, and have to be thrown away. 



There is another great evil attending importations, but this occurs 

 in their native country ; the plants are heedlessly torn from their 

 natural habitats, which are sometimes ruthlessly cleared of the beautiful 

 flowers that cannot be replaced in the locality. We are sorry to hear 

 of some of our collectors having so little respect for these treasures of 

 nature's production that they gather all they can, having no regard for 

 the future, and not even leaving a few plants in the locality to increase 

 and multiply by shedding their seed to germinate naturally over the 

 mountains, rocks, and trees. If this kind of work continues, there will 

 be but few Orchids left, excepting where the collectors cannot get 

 at them. It is to be feared that some of our collectors do not go for 

 the love of the plants, but to make all they can for the time being, 

 heedless as to whether they would be able to get more the following 

 season. 



Our botanists who from time to time have travelled have gone out 

 for the love of the plants, and in order to gain knowledge of them. 

 These men have freely imparted the information they have obtained 

 to those who have remained at home, by giving a record of their travels. 



