Missouri Botanical 
Garden Bulletin 
Vol, XI SEPTEMBER, 1923 No. 7 
AN EXPEDITION FOR ORCHIDS TO CENTRAL AND 
SOUTH AMERICA 
The orchid collection of the Missouri Botanical Garden 
has always been a notable one, and after the acquisition of 
the Brownhurst collection, through the generosity of the 
late Mr. D. S. Brown, it took first rank in this country for 
the number of varieties as well as quantity of plants. The 
annual orchid show held during January and February has 
attracted wide attention, and its inclusion in several moving 
picture circuits, both national and international, has been 
a most effective means of advertising St. Louis and the 
Garden. 
The general public is apt to judge such an exhibition from 
the standpoint of color and quantity of bloom rather than the 
rarity of the plants, and for this reason it seemed desirable 
if possible to augment considerably the number of more showy 
orchids, especially cattleyas. During the war, however, prac- 
tically all the collectors of orchids, particularly in South 
America, went out of business, and it is no longer possible 
to buy these native plants through local agents. Consequently, 
the only way in which they can be obtained is to send a 
representative direct to the country where these particular 
orchids are grown, in the hope that by a fortunate combina- 
tion of circumstances, he may secure enough of these plants 
to make the trip worth while. 
Another factor which has greatly restricted the importa- 
tion of native orchids into the country has been the restric- 
tions imposed by the Plant Quarantine Act, and indeed it 
was not possible to consider securing cattleyas from South 
America until this difficulty was overcome. However, be- 
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