i5 COOL ORCHID GEOWING. 



the savans and literati of the day to inspect some new wonder 

 among the then marvellous " air plants." Then it would be 

 at Chiswick in its palmy days, when, as the acknowledged 

 head centre of horticulture, if not of fashion, everything ran 

 smoothly as a marriage bell, while not unfrequently the then 

 authorities at Kew had the indescribable pleasure of seeing one 

 or other of these lovely plants unfold their delicate petals for 

 the first time in Europe. Although a large proportion of the 

 first, or early specimens, might now be considered but poor 

 plants, still they attracted the notice of nearly everyone 

 interested in plants at the time, including the Duke of Devon- 

 shire and the celebrated Mrs. Lawrence, and they have rapidly 

 risen in the estimation, not only of the professional horti- 

 culturist, but also of the general public ever since. 



Those who invest in Orchids judiciously, and employ men of 

 intelligence and skill to grow them, will receive good interest 

 for their capital. In most cases their plants will increase in 

 value, while the real and lasting pleasure which ever attends 

 the mind capable of contemplating these living wonders, will 

 amply repay any slight outlay on these the most beautiful of 

 all plants. We would not be understood as implying that 

 Orchids alone are worthy of culture, that they only can inspire 

 the heart with kindly feelings and thankfulness. On the 

 contrary, we argue that all plants are beautiful, all worthy 

 of our respectful admiration, and we shall find that the more 

 we understand of their cultural requirements and economy, 

 the more we shall admire them as they one by one open their 

 delicate flowers. All plants are beautiful — Orchids are super- 

 latively so, and not by any means so difficult to cultivate as 

 some would have us suppose. Still the old idea of excessive 

 heat is rigidly adhered to by many, although we rarely find 

 Orchids enjoying vigorous health in such places, while in the 

 comparatively few places where cool Orchids are cultivated in 



