ORCHIDS FOR A COOL HOUSE. 



135 



greedy. Do not expect your plants to do too much, either by 

 flowering them too often or making them carry their flowers too 

 long. Many, especially among the Oncidiums, will flower them- 

 selves to death if allowed to do so. 



Have duplicate plants, and flower them alternate years. 

 Another excellent plan is to cut the spike as soon as developed, 

 and place it in a tube of water next to the plant ; it will last very 

 nearly as long as it would if not cut, and you will greatly relieve 

 your plant. 



Lastly, the question is asked, " Are not these Orchids very 

 hard to grow ? " I answer, No. They require attention, obser- 

 vation, and study, it is true ; yet that study is full of interest, and 

 leads the mind to inquiries into many kindred themes. Geogra- 

 phy, so that we know the nature of the climes from which our 

 plants have come. Chemistry, so that we may understand the 

 nature of their requirements in the way of food, by which plant - 

 life is strengthened and sustained. Botany, by which we can 

 trace the various great families to which they individually 

 belong. 



Oh, but this involves much trouble ! To that I reply, A 

 hobby is not worth the name if it involves no trouble. Success 

 would lose its sweetness if it were not the result of difficulties 

 overcome. 



INSECT-EATING PLANTS. 



By Mr. A. J. Manda, F.R.H.S. 



[Eead July 26, 1892.] 



Dabwin, Hooker, Henslow, Begel, Lindsay, and others have so 

 well nigh exhausted the subject of insect-eating plants, that 

 although I have had the opportunity of studying almost all of 

 them, and of seeing many of them growing wild in their native 

 homes in North America, I fear I shall not be able to say any- 

 thing that is very new about them. 



The principal genera included under the title of " Insect- 

 eaters " are Drosera, Drosophyllum, Dionaea, Cephalotus, Dar- 

 lingtonia, Heliamphora, Nepenthes, and Sarracenia. Included 

 with these also are the Bladderworts (Utricularia) and the 



