ORCHIDS. 43 
matters began to long for fresh fields, and they 
knew where to look. Linnzus had told them 
something of exotic orchids in 1763, though his 
knowledge was gained through dried specimens 
and drawings. One bulb, indeed—we spare the 
name—showed life on arrival, had been planted, 
and had flowered thirty years before, as Mr. Castle 
shows. Thus horticulturists became aware, just 
when the information was most welcome, that a 
large family of plants unknown awaited their 
attention; plants quite new, of strangest form, 
of mysterious habits, and beauty incomparable. 
Their notions were vague as yet, but the fascination 
of the subject grew from year to year. Whilst 
several hundred species were described in books, 
the number in cultivation, including all those 
gathered by Sir Joseph Banks, and our native 
kinds, was only fifty. Kew boasted no more than 
one hundred and eighteen in 1813 ; amateurs still 
watched in timid and breathless hope. 
Gradually they came to see that the new field 
was open, and they entered with arush. In 1830 
a number of collections still famous in the legends 
of the mystery are found complete. Atthe Orchid 
Conference, Mr. O’Brien expressed a “ fear that we 
could not now match some of the specimens men- 
tioned at the exhibitions of the Horticultural 
