132 ORCHIDS. 



delicate perished. Within the past few years, however, 

 considerable attention has been paid to Orchids at the 

 Botanic Garden, and the collection, consisting of the 

 plants presented by Mr. Rand, with additions, ex- 

 changes, and importations, has been greatly increased, 

 so that now the Garden possesses the foundation for a 

 fine collection. The species represented are chiefly 

 those from the Western Continent, there being compara- 

 tively few of the East Indian Orchids. 



The large specimen of Dendrobium Calceolus had been 

 divided into two, and on the writer's beginning his collec- 

 tion of Orchids, Dr. Gray kindly gave him one of these 

 plants, now a beautiful specimen with canes five feet 

 long, which, every spring, is a mass of drooping racemes 

 of fragrant buff flowers. 



It is a little singular that one of Mr. Boott's original 

 plants should survive the vicissitudes of thirty-five years, 

 and to-day be represented by two of as fine specimen 

 Orchids as can be found in the country. 



In 1873 the first Orchids were grown at Glen Ridge, 

 and since then the collection has been largely increased. 

 Owing to careful culture and the perfect adaptation of 

 the houses, the plants have thriven wonderfully, and 

 there are now in the houses many very fine specimens. 



It is, however, rather a selection than a collection of 

 Orchids ; all inferior species have been discarded, and 

 only plants retained which are remarkable for beauty or 

 fragrance of flower. Thus of the large genus Epiden- 

 drum, comprising many hundred species, less than a 

 dozen are grown. 



Preference has also been given to winter flowering Or- 

 chids, as during the months of July, August, and Sep- 



