The Culture of Greenhouse Orchids 



things uncanny, outside the interest of work-a-day 

 mortals. 



It is infinitely deplorable. We see now that the 

 error might have been avoided partly, and with 

 benefit also. I do not recollect who were the 

 tasteful personages that devised such pretty names 

 as " Ltelia " and " Vanda ; " " Ada " is Dr. Lindley's 

 would he had pursued that excellent track ! 

 " Cattleya " from Mr. Cattley of Barnet, " Miltonia " 

 from Lord Milton, may pass. But how few are 

 these ! I have nearly exhausted the list, for 

 " Kodriguesia," " Pescatorea," though personal 

 names, are not commendable, sounding as un- 

 natural as the worst to English ears. Nineteen in 

 twenty among genera, and most species, bear a 

 Greek or Latin title, qualified only by bad 

 grammar. It would not signify if they were 

 short, pleasing, easily remembered. " Laelia " is 

 Latin ; " Vanda " Sanscrit. But we can adopt 

 them cheerfully, whilst only long habit demoralizes 

 us to the point of familiarity with " Odontoglossum " 

 and " Zygopetalum." 



The Botanists are directly responsible, of course. 

 It must not be said that they have no imagination 

 was not Kousseau a botanist, and Darwin? but 

 they are haunted by a futile fancy for giving what 

 they call descriptive names, in a dead language, 



36 



