163 
It is chiefly at the time of flowering that Orchidaceae become 
remarkable in their native haunts, and then less for the diversity 
of their forms, or the gaudiness of their colours, than for the 
exquisite perfume which they exhale. It is thus that I have 
often been led to the discovery of charming species, lurking 
amidst the foliage, and which my eye would never have 
detected.” 
169 Planting Trees. The following extract from the Inverness 
Courier contains information of a practice which should not be 
forgotten by planters. “ In most plantations there is a loss of 
about eight per cent, on the plants, from frost or other causes, 
and the great object of the forester is to accelerate and secure 
their growth the first year. On this head we can give a useful 
hint from the experience of Darnaway. One hundred and fifty 
acres have, within the last two or three years, been planted there 
without a single instance of loss, and this has been achieved 
by a very simple process, which merits the name and the honours 
of a discovery. It is merely putting a small quantity of lime 
into the hole in which the plant is laid. About four bushels of 
lime will suffice for an acre : it is thoroughly mixed and incor- 
porated with the mould, before the plant is inserted. The 
eflect of the lime is to push on the growth of the plant in its 
first and most precarious stage : new fibres begin to form and 
ramify from the tap-root, and not only is tlie growth of the plant 
secured, but it is advanced in a double ratio, compared with the 
ordinary system, where no lime is used. We saw this process 
in operation two years ago, and were not a little anxious as to 
the result of tlie lime. We had great faith in the sagacity and 
practical knowledge of IMr. Cutlar, the forester, but we confess we 
had a doubt that liming the plant would force it on prematurely, 
and that after a brief season of remarkable growth it would be 
found deficient in stamina, and decline as rapidly as it had 
arisen. Experience and observation have dispelled these fears. 
The plants are thriving steadily and vigorously in the most 
ex])osed parts of the forest; and, the dangerous period of their 
existence being over, there seems no doubt that they will con- 
tinue to assert and maintain their superiority of growth over 
their brethren of the forest. Indeed, we anticipate that in a 
short time lime will be universally used for this purpose, as it 
is in the operations of agriculture. The person that first used 
IS2 iCCTiBICM. 
