114 
RECEPTACLES FOR ORCHIDACE7E. 
It is the caulescent species, or such as have ordinary ascending or drooping stems, 
with, in most instances, tortuous aerial roots, that most thoroughly adapt themselves 
to suspension on blocks, or attachment to branches of trees. 
In consideration of the differences thus pointed out, three varieties of receptacle 
or support have to be provided. First, pots for the terrestrial and some of the 
pseudo-bulbous epiphytal species ; secondly, baskets for other pseudo-bulbous kinds, 
such as Stanhopeas, whose mode of flowering renders suspension necessary, and 
pots unsuitable, and for numbers of the caulescent Dendrobia and the like, which 
grow to too great a size, or have too tender roots to be properly sustained, or to 
bear exposure, on blocks ; and, thirdly, logs of wood for the tribe allied to Yanda, 
whose roots are strong, capable of subsisting in a moist atmosphere alone, and of 
enduring the same circumstances as the stems and leaves, without injury. 
Cultivators have, at different periods, attempted to supersede the use of common 
clay garden-pots for Orchidaceae, and substitute some made of a more porous 
material, with a rougher surface, to which the roots could more readily affix them- 
selves. Experiments of that kind have, however, as far as we are aware, all proved 
futile, and the old clay pot is yet universally employed. It is singular that one of 
the deficiencies which those trials were intended to supply has not been otherwise 
obviated, and that the sides as well as the bottoms of pots prepared for OrchidaceEe 
are not freely perforated with holes, from a quarter to half an inch in diameter. 
The soil would thus be penetrated more completely by air, and excessive dampness 
would be effectually prevented. 
But if it be strange that some such contrivance as the above has not been 
adopted, it is still more inexplicable why shallow pots have not been manufactured 
expressly for these plants. The inconvenience of deep pots is strongly felt by all, 
and an extra one is usually wasted to invert in the bottom of the other ; when the 
same end could be gained far more easily and satisfactorily by using the broad flat 
pans, (or some of a like form,) in which seeds are mostly germinated, and propa- 
gation is ofttimes performed. It appears to us, that when the art of pot-culture is 
brought to a higher state than at present, shallow pots will be in general requi- 
sition ; and everything is in favour of their adoption for Orchidaceae. 
Baskets for the epiphytal species may be constructed in a multitude of ways, 
and of the most varied figures and materials. No metallic substance should, how- 
ever, be employed, that has a tendency to rust ; and paint must be expressly pro- 
hibited, either for improving or preserving, in every case. Copper-wire will 
constitute a light and elegant frame for Stanhopeas, but it ought not to be of a 
hemispherical form, nor plain round the upper margin, or it will look more like a 
rat-trap than an ornamental receptacle for plants. For the species whose foliage 
is of a lively green hue, Messrs. Loddiges have introduced a very pretty receptacle, 
composed of large cockle-shells, fastened together, in several shapes, by simply 
piercing them near the edges, and tying them with strong copper-wire. The upper 
or under surface of the shell can be turned outside at pleasure; since, by this means, 
