THE PLANT WORLD UNDER CARE 



L i>7 



I had an immense pile of dry plantain leaves 

 some of which I had used for packing the 

 plants, I made my way through the darkness 

 and set it on tire. We could then see our 

 position, which was such that the only way 

 in which we could save our lives seemed to 

 be to climb into the trees. The tent where I 

 had slept was pitched on an angle formed by 

 a small stream on my right and the Magdalena. 

 The water in the latter rose so quickly that it 

 forced its way up the stream and swept over 

 the banks behind us, forming a gigantic river 

 in our rear, leaving us isolated on a small, 

 slightly elevated island. Fortunately I had all 

 the tents on this knoll where I also kept the 

 plants. However, it would be a question of 

 only a few minutes before all should be swept 

 away, and each of us ran for a tree while 

 the fire still lighted our way and before the 

 water could cut off all possible means of 

 escape. At this moment kind Providence 

 seemed to intercede in our behalf, for the 

 freshet having spent its force, the water be- 

 gan slowly to recede. Two days later the 

 champanes arrived and I started at once to 

 load the plants, piling them up in tiers until 

 each boat was full and I was ready for the 



perilous descent. We passed rocks and stones 

 and huge tree trunks often with a safety mar- 

 gin of only a few inches, but notwithstanding 

 such dangers we arrived in good order at a 

 place on the river from which I could go 

 down stream with more confidence. 

 * * * * 



1 cannot refrain from referring to the 

 beauty of the vegetation here exclusive of 

 orchids. Every step upward presented some- 

 thing new, beautiful and interesting. From 

 the ground up to the high trees was a study 

 in plant life, the ground being covered with 

 all kinds of curious mosses, selaginellas and 

 ferns, with shrubs in full bloom or with 

 strange fruits, the trunks of the trees being 

 covered with orchids and climbers of many 

 species. In one place I came across a cave 

 or ravine — the most beautiful it has been my 

 fortune to behold. A tiny stream of water 

 rolled gently over the rocky walls, the latter 

 being covered or studded with beautiful, filmy 

 ferns. The water on the delicate fronds made 

 the latter appear like a mass of gold. The 

 floor or ground was covered with selaginellas 

 and ferns of many hues with here and there 



MASDEVALLIA VEITCHIANA. 



From the high and cool South American Andes. Like most Masdevallias, it is rather difficult to grow here 



during the hot summer months. The flowers are of a resplendent color with one 



solitary flower to each scape. 



