586 FOREST CULTURE AND 
this case, the genus ranges throughout the tropics of 
nearly the whole globe. ‘ 
The epiphytal Orchideze, which are the glory of 
all tropical jungles, from whence collectors can bring 
them away bodily with the greatest ease, are num- 
bered by thousands. In the magnificent Belgian 
‘‘serres’’ of Monsieur Linden are brought together 
already not less than 1,200 species of these wonder- 
ful plants. 
While such a collection is a gem in itself, a reward 
of circumspect toil and triumph of superior horticul- 
ture, it at all seasons charms even the plain observ- 
er, either by the bizarre forms of flowers, or by their 
gaudy coloration, or by their imitative resemblance, 
or by their curious mode of attachment, whether to 
walls, rocks, wickers, fern - stems, logs, or any other 
substances. 
Such an assemblage affords at all times ample ma- 
terial for original study and designing art, while its 
contemplation raises the taste and standard of horti- 
culture, and instills an amount of information which 
ordinary decorative cultivation fails to convey ; in- 
deed, a botanic institution should aspire to these high- 
er aims. Again, to the proprietor, such a collection, 
by its increase in masses, can also become, commer- 
cially, one of quite a lucrative gain. Hence I allude 
to this specially in this industrial hall. 
Perhaps it is not too much to assert that every one 
of the existing ferns is worthy of cultivation. The 
delicacy and gracefulness of most is proverbial ; the 
rearing of the majority is not surrounded with diffi- 
culty, even from almost invisible spores,* while pter- 
*Imagine that a Fern-tree, possibly as high as the Museum Hall, can be 
raised trom seeds so extremely minute that millions of them would not 
weigh an ounce, 
