ON THE CULTURE OF TROPICAL ORCHIDACEA. 
OF Orchis-culture the ancients were entirely ignorant, nor does it appear to have made any progress among the 
moderns until the commencement of the present century. A few species had, it is true, been established at Kew, and in 
the collection of the Messrs. LoppicEs, at a somewhat earlier period; but these may be said to have succeeded rather in 
defiance than in consequence of the barbarous treatment they received. If, however, the gardener was in the dark as 
to the management of the tribe, the botanist was as much at fault as to their numbers and importance, for even Professor 
LinpLEy—the first to entertain enlarged views upon the subject—in an early edition of his “ Natural System,” estimates 
the probable extent of the tribe at only two thousand, a number that is exceeded, at the present time, by those actually 
cultivated in the hot-houses of England alone! 
But, before we enter upon the details of the prevailing modes of culture, it may not be uninteresting to make brief’ 
mention of the parties who, by their zeal and skill, have successively contributed to bring Orchis-growing to its present 
palmy state; and first on the list must stand the well-known firm of C. Loppicgs and Sons. A collection appears to have 
existed in this establishment for more than half a century, which, in the last ten years, has increased so rapidly that it 
now includes more than one thousand eight hundred species. Mr. Carriey, of Barnet, whose memory is embalmed in 
the splendid genus that bears his name, appears to have been the first successful private grower, and had the merit of 
introducing many excellent plants.* The Horticultural Society had also, from the first establishment of their garden 
at Chiswick, spared no pains to discover the secret of epiphyte culture, and their experiments enabled Professor LinpLey 
to compile his memorable paper “ Upon the Cultivation of Epiphytes of the Orchis Tribe,” which was read May 18, 
1830, and from which the science of Orchis-culture may be said to date./ Contemporary with Mr. Carrizy, and 
no doubt prompted by his success, other collectors soon appeared, of whom the most remarkable were the late 
Mrs. ArnoLp Harrison and her brother, Mr. Ricnarp Harrison, the Rey. J. T. Huntiey, and the late Lorp FIvzwitiiam.t 
Mr. R. Harrison’s collection was, for many years, “the leader,” and was visited accordingly not by epiphyte-lovers only, 
but by botanists and men of science from all parts of the world. Aigburgth, in fact, became a sort of Mecca, to which the 
faithful Orchis-grower made his annual pilgrimage, and never without finding himself abundantly rewarded by the sight 
of its then unrivalled treasures. What are called “ fine specimens” were here seen for the first time, and many were 
the years of patient care and skill that had been requisite to produce them. Next in order, and second to none of 
his predecessors in enthusiasm, came the writer of this article, who, impatient of the tardy rate at which new species 
crossed the seas, determined to expedite matters by dispatching a botanical collector to seek them in their native haunts. 
This service was undertaken by Mr. Cot.ey, who sailed for Demerara in the winter of 1833, and although his success 
fell short of expectation, it yet was sufficient to encourage other parties to embark in similar adventures. From this 
period the importation of Orchidacez has steadily increased, and, although we now reckon the species by thousands, an 
inexaustible fund of novelty seems to be in store for us: and collections have multiplied almost as rapidly as the plants. 
Those of Mr. Barker and Mr. Wituiams, in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, became celebrated about the year 1834; 
and the former gentleman, by sending out Mr. Ross to Mexico, added greatly to the number of species in cultivation. The 
collection of the Rev. Joun Crowes next came into notice, as did shortly afterwards that of the Duxe of Devonsuirg, at 
Chatsworth, which was incalculably enriched by the mission of Mr. Gisson to India, in 1836. But the annus mirabilis 
of Orchis-importatum was 1837. In addition to the spoils brought by Mr. Gisson from the Nipalese Hills, and which 
reached Chatsworth in this year, Mr. Skinner poured into our stoves the richest treasures of the barrancas of Guatemala ;— 
Mr. Cummine sent a profusion of the choicest air-plants from the Philippine Islands;—Mr. SHomsurck contributed some 
exquiste species from the interior of Guiana;—and M. Descuamps, a Frenchman, arrived with his vessel from Vera 
Cruz, entirely laden with Mexican Orchidacez. In the whole, not less, probably, than three hundred species were seen in 
- England for the first time in this memorable year. 
Besides the collections already noticed, many others deserve to. be enumerated, which, although more recent than some 
we have named, are not less rich in species, especially those of Mr. Rucker, the Duxe of NorTHuMBERLAND, Baron Dims- 
* Mr. Carriey’s collection was disposed of to Mr. Kniaut, of the Exotic Nursery, about the year 1832. 
+ This paper is published in the “ Horticultural Transactions,” 2nd Series, Part I.: except that it advocates a temperature unnecessarily high, it contains no views 
that subsequent experience has not amply confirmed. 
t Of these, all except the collection at Wentworth, have disappeared. At the death of Mrs. Arnoup Harrison, that lady’s collection passed, like Mr. Carriey’s, 
into the hands of Mr. Knicur: Mr. Hunruny’s was removed to Chatsworth in 1835, and Mr. R. Harrison’s dispersed by the hammer last year. 
