PACKING ORCHIDS FOR EXHIBITIOKS. 59 



want of proper packing. On the other hand we have shown P. Wallichii 

 for several years at the Chiswick and Kegent's Park Exhibitions, and 

 always managed to convey it without any injury. Oiled tissue paper is 

 an excellent thing to wrap each flower in, also the flowers of Vandas, and 

 indeed any that are particularly liable to bruise through the transit. In 

 preparing them we put a strong stick to each flower spike, the sticks 

 being long enough to go firmly into the pot. They should be placed 

 at the back part of the flowers, and should stand one or two inches above 

 the flower spike ; some wadding should then be fastened round the stick, 

 with the smooth or glazed side towards the flowers so that it does not 

 cling or leave any portion upon the flowers, and the flower spike tied 

 firmly to it, putting more wadding or fine paper round every flower stalk, 

 and tying each firmly to the flower spike. Begin at the top of the spike, 

 and tie every flower separately, so that they do not touch one another. 

 The leaves must not be allowed to rub against the flowers. On arriving 

 at the end of their journej-, untie them, remove the wadding, and tie 

 them out in the proper form. In tying, care should be taken not to rub 

 the flowers. 



Saccolabiums and Aerides do not require so much packing. It is 

 sufficient to put two or three sticks to each spike — one at each end and 

 one in the centre if the spike be long, or two only if it be short. The 

 stick, which should only be long enough to support the spikes in the 

 drooping way in which they grow, should be firmlj'- fixed in the basket or 

 pot ; a small piece of wadding or fine paper should be placed on the top 

 of the stick, and to this the spike should be firmly tied. This will be 

 sufficient to ensure safety. The wadding should not be allowed to touch 

 the top part of the flowers, as it will stick to them and be veiy difficult 

 to remove. 



Vandas require more packing, their flowers being larger . and further 

 apart ; place some wadding between each flower on the spike, then fix 

 some sticks firmly in the basket or pot, and tie the spike to them, without 

 allowing the stick to touch the flowers ; wadding should then be put in 

 between the flowers to keep them separate, and a piece of oiled tissue 

 paper over all the flowers, the smooth surface being placed on the 

 blossoms. 



Phalcenopsis grandijiora and P. amahilis travel badly, and require 

 much care. The best way is to set the plant in the bottom of a box, 



