Slims 
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ON THE COLLECTING AND IMPORTATION OF ORCHIDS. 
for forcing purposes, the first stage of such forcing maybe, if possible, commenced out-doors. Only 
observe the hyacinth ! "Who would not admire a fine stand of the finest of our imported kinds on New 
Year’s Day ? Yet we seldom see them fine so soon in the year. And why ? Simply because they will 
not endure what practical men term “ forcing,” until they have produced plenty of fibres, which pro¬ 
cess (like the ripening of fruits) cannot be reduced simply to a matter of high excitement through tem¬ 
perature, but of time. However, plenty of fibres once produced, an affair of necessity occupying 
several weeks, the bulb may be introduced to a higher temperature—it may, in ordinary parlance, be 
“ forced.”— Robert Errington, gardener to Sir P. M. Egerton, Bart., Oulton Park, Cheshire. 
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ON THE COLLECTING AND IMPORTATION OE ORCHIDS. 
1/(1 HE following instructions, which have been prepared for a gentleman about to visit South America, 
A with the intention of making a collection of the Orchids of those regions, are so clear and 
explicit on all the needful points, that they are submitted for the benefit of others interested in the 
importation of Orchids :— 
The countries likely to be visited by the gentleman alluded to are Bolivia, and other portions of 
Central America, which abound in Orchids, many of the most gorgeous and showy kinds, more parti¬ 
cularly the species of Cattleya, Peristeria, Oncidimn, Chysis, and many other showy genera, which are 
mostly found growing on trees near the outsides of the thick jungle, and very frequently on decayed 
trunks that have fallen from age, but rarely in the dark or close part of the jungle. They are more 
abundant near rivers and water-courses than elsewhere. The best plan for their preservation is to cut 
them off whatever they may be growing upon, with as many of the roots whole as possible ; or, when 
growing on small pieces of wood, if that can be cut with them, the greater is the certainty of preserv¬ 
ing them. Dry them a little in a shaded place, not allowing the sun to reach them. When dry, pack 
them in boxes, with a little dry moss, if to be had, between the layers of plants ; or, if moss is not pro¬ 
curable, the dried leaves of the Tillaridsias, or wild Pine Apples, will answer the same purpose, and can 
be got in those regions without trouble. The sides of the boxes should be pierced by a half-inch 
centre-bit, with holes at about six inches apart, all over their surface. The cases are most convenient 
when about three feet in length, and eighteen inches in depth and width. They ought to be marked on 
the top as “ perishable plants, to be kept as far from the boilers of the steam-ship as possible.” In 
tins way, nearly every plant may be imported alive and in good condition. 
The same countries abound also in aquatics of the finest kinds. In the standing pools close to the 
Amazon and its tributaries, are hundreds of acres of Victoria Regia, and many other most beautiful 
water plants. The former is to be found in Bolivia, and from that country the first seeds of it 
were sent to Kew by Mr. T. Bridges of Valparaiso. Some vegetated; but, having arrived late in 
autumn, died during the first winter. Soon after that Sir R. Schomburgh sent seeds from the Amazon. 
The best way of getting aquatics home is by collecting the seeds, and placing them in small balls 
of clay quite moist, putting the balls in bottles with wide mouths, like pickle bottles. Ram them 
tight, with a little water floating on the top, and then seal them so as to exclude air.* Roots of some 
of the kinds may be got home, but they require glass cases perfectly air-tight, so as to enable the soil 
to retain sufficient moisture. 
All along the rivers of South America, and especially on the low banks of the tributary streams, 
bulbs of the very finest kinds are found in plenty, consisting mostly of Amaryllises, Crinums, and 
Pancratiums of the best sorts, many of which have never yet been introduced into this country. The 
above-named plants, and more especially the Amaryllises, are in every way deserving the attention of 
the collectors. There are also found by the rivers, and in the plains, many beautiful creeping plants, 
Echites, Allamanda, Passiflora, &c., seeds of which could easily be sent home. 
On the Orinooko, about seven hundred miles up, there are to be found thousands of that 
orchid, the Cattleya superba, in several varieties, with a vast assortment of other orchids.—H. 
* The seeds of the Victoria have been transported much more successfully in phials of pure water.—M. 
splendid 
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