large share of popularity. Some of these have been set aside to 

 make room for more quickly and easily grown plants, in accord- 

 ance with the changing fashion of the day, or with the 

 increasing utilitarianism which will tolerate the beautiful only 

 upon the most economical terms. Carnations, Picotees, and 

 Dahlias have enjoyed a steadily sustained popularity during a 

 long period, while the acknowledged Queen of Flowers, the Rose, 

 retains her sway over an increasing number of subjects. 



In what may be termed groups of plants, we have an example 

 of long-continued, and still advancing favour, in the hardy her- 

 baceous plants whose claims have most deservingly received 

 powerful support in recent years. Many could be named that are 

 still favourites, but which have never been regarded as " fashion- 

 able flowers," and, therefore, have not attained to the commercial 

 importance of some families ; and still others could be mentioned 

 to prove the fluctuations that have taken place, but sufficient 

 have been enumerated to illustrate the changeableness of popular 

 taste with regard to plants generally. 



Turning to the special objects of this treatise the Orchids 

 we have a most remarkable example of a gradually obtained and 

 substantial popularity amongst the wealthy patrons of horti- 

 culture. In this respect orchids are unique, for no other family 

 has ever evoked so much genuine enthusiasm, or caused such a 

 large expenditure of money in their collection, purchase, and 

 culture, as these. During the early part of the past half century 

 they steadily advanced in importance, but within the last twenty 

 years their progress has been most rapid ; and now they occupy 

 an extraordinary position in plant collections, not only of Britain, 

 but of Europe and America. Nor is this popularity of an unstable 

 'character, for there are evident signs of its long continuance, and 

 of an extension amongst a class of cultivators whose purses are 

 not so long as were those of what may be termed the inaugurators 

 of the Orchid fashion. There is, indeed, a great future yet for 

 numerous members of the Orchid family. The times are changed 

 considerably since the " Tulip madness " raged; people are now 

 too practical to encourage dangerous speculations, and we must, 

 therefore, look for some substantial causes of the Orchid enthu- 

 siasm, which has been described by an eminent botanist as " an 

 absolute passion." They are, however, easily found in the floral 

 beauty, structural peculiarities, and scientific interest that dis- 

 tinguish these plants, above all others, in one natural order. 

 Beautiful flowers from all climes adorn our houses and gardens, 

 all imaginable colours are represented, the richest and most 

 delicate fragrances delight us, but in the Orchid there is a mys- 

 terious attraction a something more than mere beauty of form, 

 with such evident adaptations for particular purposes, that \ve 

 appear to be in the presence of a form of life approximating to 



