December, 1913.] 



THK ORCHID WORLD. 



51 



Collecting Vanda ccsrulea. 



Vanda CCERULEA. — Some of the finest 

 forms of this popular blue-flowering Orchid 

 have been imported by Messrs. Sander and 

 Sons through their collector, Mr. Micholitz, 

 from the Southern Shan States. Our illus- 

 trations are from actual photographs taken 

 by this successful traveller, and show various 

 stages of securing the plants. V. coerulea is 

 accustomed to a wide range of temperature in 



V anda ccerulea, bringing in the Plants. 



its native home. During the cool season hoar- 

 frost is frequently to be seen on plants 

 growing near the ground, but owing to the 

 drying winds which prevail little harm is done. 

 The failure of many amateurs to successfully 

 cultivate this species may be due to the fact 

 that their plants are kept in a too humid and 

 even temperature. The foliage requires to 

 be well-ripened in order to prevent the 

 disfiguring spotting of the leaves, and one of 

 the best means of securing this object is 



ample ventilation of the house. The freshly 

 collected plants are brought by natives, both 

 men and women, to a convenient depot, where 

 they are cleaned and packed in baskets ready 

 for the first part of their journey. Our illus- 

 tration shows a long line of oxen slowly 



Vanda ccsrulea, a collecting depot. 



wending their way to Bhamo, an important 

 town, where the plants are more securely 

 packed before commencing their long journey 

 to England and other countries. The Orchid 

 collector's life is interesting and often 

 exciting, although very different to the 

 comfortable abode of the amateur who is 

 made happy by cultivating and flowering the 

 plants when living in a civilised country. 



Vanda ccerulea. Oxen laden with Plants. 



