36 ABOUT ORCHIDS. 
Sobralia, three and four inches across; and yet 
another of the same family, growing on the rocks, 
and “‘ looking like masses of snow on the hill-side.” 
Such descriptions are thrilling, but these gentle- 
men receive them placidly; they would like to 
know, perhaps, what is the reserve price on such 
fine things, and what the chance of growing them 
to a satisfactory result. Dealers have a profound 
distrust of novelties, especially those of terrestrial 
genus ; and their feeling is shared, fora like reason, 
by most who have large collections. Mr. Burbidge 
estimates roughly that we have fifteen hundred to 
two thousand species and varieties of orchid in 
cultivation ; a startling figure, which almost justi- 
fies the belief of those who hold that no others 
worth growing will be found in countries already 
explored. But beyond question there are six 
times this number in existence, which collectors 
have not taken the trouble to gather. The chances, 
therefore, are against any new thing. Many 
species well known show slight differences of 
srowth in different localities. Upon the whole, 
regular orchidaceans prefer that some one else 
should try experiments, and would rather pay a 
good price, when assured that it is worth their while, 
than a few shillings when the only certainty is 
trouble and the strong probability is failure. Mr. 
