January, 1903.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 5. 
Among Orchidaceous plants there are few if any that produce seedlings. 
-in such a prodigal manner as Zygopetalum Mackayi. The seeds are 
relatively large and easy of germination, and once sown in a structure it is. 
amazing to find that they spring up in the most unexpected places. This 
has probably been noted by others, and doubtless very many similar 
experiments to the foregoing have been made by others. 
S. Lancaster, Mass., U.S.A. EB. O. ORPET. 
SLUGS! SNAILS! AND WOOD-LICE! 
WILL not some sympathetic reader tell of an effective antidote, or a 
means of getting rid of these pests? By so doing he will earn the undying 
gratitude of hundreds of enthusiasts. We watch and tend our plants the 
year round; when, joy, that little pet Odonto, which has been so carefully 
watched, has at last a spike showing! With what interest have we noted 
the various gradations of that plant since the time when its bulbs were 
little larger than a pea. Each year they have increased in size, and now 
the reward is apparently in sight. Alas, it is only apparently, for one night 
a silent foe, unseen, comes and feeds on the succulent tender spike, regard- 
ing it as an excellent tit-bit. It is not often that the visitor, which in its 
path leaves a glistening slime, is of large dimensions. If these appear, 
they are soon detected—but it is the small unseen sluggish mite, who more 
than equals its larger ally in comparative voracity. 
Unseen, unheard, it sets to work 
on our “ crispum” spike ; 
The cotton-wool it dees not shirk, 
But eats away all night. 
Next morn our embryonic flower 
o appears ; 
Gradually the tip drops lower, 
he sap exudes in tears. 
[Likewise the grower’s feelings !—ED.] 
Lettuce leaves, bran, and the other standard methods of catching all you: 
see are not thoroughly effective. Is there no other remedy than persevering 
search, too much zeal in which often results in scorched leaves, and disfigured. 
patches on the foliage, owing to drip from the oil lantern ? 
I was once told that fumigation was certain death to wood-lice, but 
after two successive nights of this killing treatment, I found them still. 
contentedly feeding on the Dendrobium roots. It is very interesting to. 
see the young roots pushing from the base of the new growths in search of 
food, but with wood-lice on a similar mission the case is different. 
If some reader can tell of a better method than prowling about half the 
night “ bug-hunting,” he will be a benefactor to hundreds of others, besides. 
An ANxIOoUS AMATEUR. 
