THE USE of baskets of pitch-pine is constantly growing more common among our cultivators. These baskets have long taken the place of pots for very many of the orchids, which, being by nature epiphytes, grow reluctantly in pots in which their roots are confined and are unable to reach the air.

For plants which are to be hung up nothing can equal the elegance of these prettily shaped baskets which have taken the place, in our green houses, of the old-fashioned pots, which were generally covered by an ugly growth of algae and mosses.

The pine baskets are used in great numbers by the orchid fanciers. The simplest and most useful form is the simple square basket, used for dendrobium, cattleya, laelia, trichopilia, most of the oncidiums, etc.

A similar basket, but of twice the height, is especially suitable for the Indian orchids, such as aerides, saccolabium, vanda and an-graecum. For phalaenopsis, the high tubular or cylindrical form is the best.

Those who are willing to incur a little extra expense cannot do better than select the octagonal forms, single and double, which are admirably adapted to all orchids, but especially to the strong plants called specimens.

For stanhopea and acineta a special basket is made, round in form, with a bottom of copper wire, through which the subterranean flowers can find ready egress.

The hamper and log forms may be used to advantage instead of the heavy top and pieces of bark on which the Brazilian cattleyas, lae-lias and oncidiums of spreading form are grown.

They are simply filled with a light fibrous soil, to which the plants are firmly attached by copper wires. The hopper and manger forms are especially useful for the decoration of walls. They should be filled with ornamental foliage plants of trailing habit. The pot, cup and conical forms are less to be recommended, as they render the arrangement and cultivation of the plants more difficult. Those pine-baskets are admirably adapted to the culture of bromeliacea of small size, and many of the ferns, such as adiantum, davallia, certain polypodiums. selaginellas, etc. They should be suspended, of course, and will thus form a pleasing addition to the greenhouse, the upper part of which is too often bare of vegetation.

All these baskets may be made at home, but if regard is had to beauty, strength and cheapness, it will probably be found better to buy them ready made. We have tried various makes, and prefer those of Aufroy, of Audilly, which have rendered us good service for several years. The material is the best, the construction strong and the shapes very pretty. Furthermore, this manufacturer has had the good sense to leave the wood in its natural condition instead of covering it with varnish.

Varnished and oiled wood is unsuitable, as the roots cannot attach themselves to it, and therefore perish, a circumstance of which the amateur does not think until too late to repair the mischief or to save the plants from destruction. - O. Bullif.