give our readers an idea of the présent condition of collecting this species, for- 
merly diffused in abundance over a considérable part of New Granada, imported 
to Europe by tens and hundreds of thousands, but at présent becoming rare, 
notwithstanding its extreme vitality. 
“ For the search, one generally divides his men into groups of five to ten 
in number, each company collecting separately on the borders and openings of 
the forest. O. Alexandrae is generally met with in the glades of the forest, or 
spaces cleared by the fall of some old tree. It prefers to grow on the tree-trunks, 
rarely on the branches, and then only on the largest ones. It is collected with 
difficulty, because the natives show a great répugnance to climbing the trees, on 
account of the scorpions and the thousand other insects which are hidden there, 
and particularly the ants, whose sting is very sharp. 
“ One is, accordingly, generally restricted to the single resource of felling 
the trees, though this is not always an easy matter. The whole of a day must 
sometimes be taken by four or five men, working together, and when the work is 
finished, and the collector looks for his treasures, he sometimes perceives that 
they hâve not discovered any of the precious Orchid, and that ail his efforts 
hâve been thrown away. 
“ The harvests are much less fruitful than formerly and may be estimated, 
under ordinary conditions, at twenty or twenty-five plants per day, with ten men. 
How much more numerous they were five years ago ! 
“ After the plants are collected, they are placed under a tent in a place 
carefully arranged to serve as a sort of head-quarters. They are then cleaned and 
wiped thoroughly, in order to remove every trace of humidity, which induces 
rapid decay. Lastly, when a sufficient quantity is collected, and the journey is 
finished, they are packed up in cases, placed on the backs of mules, and trans- 
ported to the port of shipment. The journey occupies about five days, under 
ordinary circumstances, and in the favourable season; but it is always neces- 
sary to reckon with unforeseen circumstances, and especially with the rains, 
so abundant in these régions, and which transform in a few hours the most 
gentle streams into impetuous torrents. It is also sometimes necessary to throw 
artificial bridges over these swollen water-courses, and to carry the cases over 
to the other bank, while the mules, relieved of their burdens, pass over as best 
they can by swimming. 
“ The point of departure of the vessels is the town of Honda, in the State of 
Tolima; and, in following the course of the Magdalena River, they next arrive 
at Barranquilla, the point where the river divides into two branches, the Upper 
Magdalena and the Lower Magdalena, and forms very dangerous rapids. Here 
the cases are transferred to the railway, and conveyed by it to Savanilla, where 
they are embarked by the transatlantic steamers to their European destination. 
“ The voyage across the océan occupies about six weeks, sometimes two 
(To be continued on p. 22.) 
