The Civnuiian Hoitiinltunst. 



FLOWERS 



THE ORCHID HOUSES OF W. S. KIMBALL. 



lU Fkkd. Mm. iii-.j.i., Innkhkii', Ont. 



79 



'HERE is inucii in the 

 pleasant city of Ro- 

 cliester which is of 

 special interest to the 

 flower -lover. But 

 there is in it no other 

 place, perhaps, in 

 which there is so much of interest, 

 or in which so much of interest or 

 in which so much can (juickly he 

 learned of the rare and beautiful in 

 floral nature as at the private con- 

 servatories of W. S. Kimball. 



When in Rochester the past sum- 

 mer I spent several hours in these 

 conservatories, and although I could 

 not, in so short a time, systematic- 

 ally take in the whole round of this 

 great private establishment, yet I saw 

 enough to give me an idea of the 

 value and magnificence of the col- 

 lection. Knowledge regarding the 

 treatment of orchids is limited to as 

 yet but few in Ontario. I do not 

 know where the knowledge of the 

 varied treatment of this great famil\- 

 (according to the requirements of 

 each member of it) can be more 

 quickly obtained than at these con- 

 servatories. Anyone premeditating 

 the commencement of the pleasant, 

 but often uncertain pursuit of orchid 

 culture, would also do well to visit 

 these houses in order to make a wise 

 selection of varieties. 



There are, I think, at least seven 

 houses devoted to orchids alone. 

 Many of the varieties which I saw 



were so costly as to be beyond the 

 reach of those of ordinary means. 

 There were Cypripediums in three- 

 inch pots, which had cost two or 

 three hundred dollars each ; and 

 epiphytal orchids on billets, or in 

 baskets, which had cost fabulous 

 sums, one (a vanda) which I was in- 

 formed cost fifteen hundred dollars 

 and was considered to be worth, at 

 the time I saw it, at least two thou- 

 sand. It is rarity, however, and nqt 

 extraordinary beauty, which makes 

 certain varieties so high priced. 

 Some of the varieties of Cattleyas 

 (which to me were among the most 

 beautiful of all) are within the reach 

 of everyone. 



The Cattleya, in its variety, was 

 to my mind, the grandest orchid ot 

 all. Most of the varieties bear 

 immense bloom, beautifully tinted 

 and deliciously fragrant. Cattleyas 

 are not so difficult to manage as 

 some less beautiful orchids. Some 

 orchids are wonderfully prolific of 

 bloom. I saw a Cattleya and also 

 a Coelogyne which, each, at one time, 

 bore five hundred flowers on a single 

 plant. I was told that the Lycaste 

 is one of the easiest managed of all 

 orchids and therefore specially valu- 

 able for beginners in orchid culture. 

 It is, however, not (juite so beautiful 

 as some others. It is a matter of 

 interesting study to behold these 

 epiphytal orchids, strong in growth 

 and rich in bloom, and yet with no 



