242 On the Treatment of the Dendrobia, Aerides, #c. 



now adopted the above mentioned mode of irrigating them t 

 with full confidence that it will succeed in our stoves, as well 

 as it does at Calcutta ; and very soon after its application to 

 a sickl y Kpidendron, growing on the stem of Sterculia Balan- 

 ghas, vigorous young fibres began to sprout from it on all 

 sides. I am very much inclined to think, that most of such 

 plants would attach themselves to the sides of a porous stone 

 or vessel, or of a dead root, if constantly irrigated, and thrive 

 upon them as well as upon a living tree, especially if the stone 

 or root were covered with growing moss, for I have observed 

 the fibres of more than one sort attach themselves strongly 

 to the outside of the pot in which they are planted ; and I 

 conceive that they might be beautifully cultivated, upon an 

 ornamental cone of porous pottery, filled with water and fur- 

 nished, on the outside, with niches, in which the plants might 

 be fixed, with a little moss or peat to promote their growth 

 in the first instance. 



I have found the parasitical plants in danger of perishing, 

 from want of moisture on a deciduous tree, during its season 

 of inactivity, but that deficiency would probably be removed 

 by constant irrigation. The neatest and most convenient 

 vessels for that purpose, perhaps, would be little tubs, such 

 as are sold at toy shops, which might be easily tied to a 

 branch, and perforated with a small gimblet. A short string, 

 of whicli one end is twisted round, or at least in contact with 

 the plant, and the other inserted into a phial of water, will 

 also be found to convey a regular, though less plentiful, sup- 

 ply of moisture, acting in the manner of a siphon. I have 

 used it advantageously to nourish a graft, and promote its 

 union with the stock. For the cultivation of parasitical plants 



