HINTS ON PURCHASING ORCHIDS. 11 



establishments. Some growers, ever ready with objections, will 

 say that dozens or half dozens are too many for them, two or 

 three being all they require. To these I would recommend 

 that they form a sort of association in conjunction with neigh- 

 bouring cultivators, buying plants in quantity which can 

 afterwards be equally divided, to suit all parties concerned. 

 Still many cool Orchids should be grown in quantity in 

 every collection, and if liberally treated will furnish a fine 

 show of bloom for every month in the year. Indeed where 

 Odontoglossum Alexandra? is grown in quantity, it alone may 

 be had in flower all the year round, or with but little inter- 

 mission. All who contemplate commencing Orchid growing 

 should begin with the free-growing profuse-blooming species, 

 and if these succeed and give satisfaction, which they assuredly 

 will do if rationally treated, the newer and rarer kinds may 

 be added as opportunities present themselves. The first com- 

 mencement of nearly every Orchid collection is but a series 

 of trials and experiments, and it is always best to experi- 

 mentalise with the commoner plants rather than with the 

 rarer, and consequently more valuable species. Many amateurs 

 have a fancy for purchasing newly imported plants, and this 

 can be done most weeks at the auction rooms. It is as well, 

 however, to inform them that they will have to compete with 

 the various nurserymen or their Orchid growers, men who 

 have in the majority of cases an extensive knowledge and well 

 matured experience of the plants they wish to buy. 



There are always many additional attractions about imported 

 and unbloomed plants, and a keen pleasure in watching their 

 buds slowly expand, perhaps for the first time in Europe. 

 Added to this there is always a possibility of obtaining some 

 new or rare species or varieties amongst them. For example, 

 C. Stead, Esq., of Baildon, and T. A. Titley, Esq., of Gledhow, 

 Leeds, *both fortunately obtained the chaste Lycaste alba 



