58 orchid-grower's manual. 



PACKING OECHIDS FOR EXHIBITIONS. 



IN transporting Orchidaceous plants to exhibitions they require great 

 care in packing and tying, for many of them are very tender. 

 Their flowers in many instances are large and waxy, and some of them 

 require more packing than others. It is extremely annoying to have 

 a fine specimen plant spoiled, during its journey to the place of 

 exhibition, in consequence of its not being carefully packed, when with 

 a little more care it would have travelled safely to any distance. In fact, 

 distance is of very little consequence if the packing is well done. This 

 ■was proved in a most extraordinary manner in the spring of 1869, by 

 Mr. R. Warner, who sent upwards of fifty specimen Orchids, from his 

 gardens at Broomfield, to the International Horticultural Exhibition at 

 St. Petersburg. These plants were carefully packed in close cases, and 

 sent by rail the whole journey, saving the short run across the Channel 

 by steamer, eight days being occupied in the transport. "When 

 impacked and staged, they were in excellent condition, having suffered 

 during the journey no more than they would have done in the houses at 

 home. That these plants should have travelled to St. Petersburg in such 

 excellent condition is undoubtedly the greatest feat in connection with 

 horticultural exhibitions that has ever been accomplished, especially con- 

 sidering that they were all large plants — amongst them Phalcenopsis 8chil- 

 leriana, with a hundred expanded blossoms ; P. grandiflora, with about half 

 the number; Vandas, with numerous spikes; Trichopilia orispa, -with, a 

 hundred open flowers ; Gattleyas, Bendrohiums, Odontoglossums, Cypripe- 

 diums, Aerides, and several other genera, the whole being profusely 

 bloomed. A remarkable proof of what care will do with even the most 

 delicate flowers was given in the case of the plant of Odontoglossvm 

 Alexandrce exhibited in this collection, which, after standing at the 

 St. Petersburg Exhibition for a fortnight, was again packed up and 

 exhibited three weeks later at the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens 

 at Kensington, with the loss of only one or two flowers. 



We have had a good deal of this work to do, and a few hints on the 

 subject to beginners may be of practical use. Some kinds bear carrying 

 much better than others. Phajus Wallichii and P. grandifolius are both 

 bad plants for travelling if not well packed. We have seen fine plants 

 brought to diSerent flower shows with their flowers completely spoiled, for 



