The Gardener's Chronicle notices the following carious speculation: "We observe in a late number of the Revue Horticole, a statement by Mons. Duchartre that Orchidaceous epiphytes are incapable of feeding upon moisture suspended in the air as invisible vapor. He says that experiment has satisfied him that this common idea is completely erroneous, and that they feed wholly upon the mere water which, in a fluid state, comes in con-tacit with their leaves and roots. A damp atmosphere, according to this observer, furnishes absolutely nothing in the shape of food, aed can have no effect upon them, except diminishing perspiration, which might be excessive if the air in which they live were to become too dry.

"M. Duchartre asserts that copious watering and syringing, especially npon the roots, are what such orchids want In their natural situations, they receive it abundantly in the form of rain; and in our houses they must also have it, if they are to thrive. We are unacquainted with the detailed experiments which have led to these conclusions, in the justice of which we are not at present prepared to acquiesce. The statement is, however, important, and cultivators should look to it. Maybe it throws some light upon the mysterious disease that has appeared in our orchid houses of late. While, however, we pause to hear more of M. Duchartre, we admit at once that the skin of orchids is much in need of very careful examination. What, for example, are the innumerable papillae (one to each cell) which characterize the upper surface of the leaves of such plants as phalaenopsis?"