THE SEASON FOR COLLECTING ORCHIDS. 9 



of this class of persons upon the matter of shading, than upon any other. 

 We are frequently told that in a state of nature such and such plants 

 grow in most exposed situations— situations open to the full effects of a 

 tropical sun, and that nothing can bo more erroneous than the manner in 

 which we use " blinds " for the purpose of keeping away the bright light 

 of that luminary. There are, no doubt, exceptions to this rule ; for 

 instance, many of the Eastern Dendrohes, such as D. bigibbum, D. superbiens, 

 jD. Phalaenopsis, D. Williamsianum, B. Goldiei, the Indian D. formosum, 

 &c., we have grown with the best results, without the slightest shade. 

 All we can say in answer to the objectors is that they totally lose sight 

 of the fact that our plants are growing under glass, which has the power 

 of burning up the leaves and thus disfiguring our plants for years, if not 

 for life ; and that sunlight under glass is very different to that in the 

 open, where the wind counteracts its burning properties to a certain 

 extent. A little practice would soon teach such persons how erroneous 

 their ideas are on this point, and they would soon sink their so-called 

 natural treatment, had they to be responsible for the effects produced 

 thereby. In leaving this part of our subject, we must add that plant- 

 growers are now keenly alive to the advantage of strong sunlight for 

 their plants, but that they are too practical to allow more than is 

 advantageous to them under the artificial circumstances in which 

 they are placed. 



THE SEASON FOK COLLECTING ORCHIDS. 



"IITB are extremely sorry to see the large importations which are sent 

 ' ' home in the autumn and winter months, and sold by auction 

 during the cold season, without any regard to the requirements of the 

 plants, or to the interests of the buyers, who are told that the plants 

 have had no cold to hurt them. Such plants, nevertheless, as soon as 

 they reach home, and are housed, lose their leaves, and eventually die. 

 The loss of the money and also of the new and valuable plant, for which 

 a high price has been paid — with a view to secure the best form of 

 some new and rare kind — must be very annoying to the purchaser. 

 If collectors will insist upon sending and importers on receiving these 

 plants in winter, they should keep them in their own Orchid houses 



