IMPORTING ORCHIDS 61 
once to a shipping agent at the port of embarkation, to 
catch a steamer previously timed, and to consign the case 
or cases to a reliable shipping agent in England. 
Another cause of mortality in Orchids during transit 
arises from the mistaken notion that the plants require to 
be prepared by drying before packing, and this practice is 
continued so long and rigorously in many cases that the 
plants are half dead before they are despatched. 
No such preparation is needed; the plants should be 
packed at once after collecting, and any moisture which 
may be in them will escape through the small holes in the 
case. The parcels post is available from many parts of the 
tropics, and from some places it is the only reliable means 
of getting Orchids over in a reasonable time. But it is 
only available for small lots, and for these it forms the best 
means of forwarding. Unfortunately, there are drawbacks 
even to these means, for the parcels, especially from some 
ports, are frequently stowed in hot chambers on board the 
mail steamer, the object being to keep the mails dry, and 
plant-life is destroyed by the excessive heat. 
Epiphytal Orchids with pseudo-bulbs, such as Cattleyas, 
Lzlias, and Epidendrums, if collected at or near the 
proper season, require very little packing. The cases 
being ready, it is necessary to place a layer of plants 
at the bottom, with their heads all facing one way. The 
next layer is placed with the heads the reverse way, and 
so on until the box is full of plants firmly pressed in, 
but not sufficiently close to cause injury. During the 
packing a few struts of wood should be placed across 
the inside and fastened by nails driven into their ends from 
the outside ; these will prevent the plants from forming a 
