The Culture of Greenhouse Orchids 



in cultivation are natives of Cape Colony or Natal. 

 But they are woefully disproportionate to the 

 number of species existing there, most of which 

 would be welcomed with enthusiasm if there were 

 any chance of growing them. But they defy us 

 as yet, saving two or three ; and Mr. Watson, 

 Curator of Kew, an expert who speaks with the 

 authority of a traveller, does not encourage the 

 hope that we shall find means to conciliate them. 

 It is difficult, one might say almost impossible, to 

 reproduce artificially any approximation to the 

 conditions under which these plants live at home. 

 A good many, indeed, even of the stubbornest, 

 have been persuaded to flower now and again ; but 

 it was evidently an accident, resulting from cir- 

 cumstances which the triumphant operator is 

 unable to recall. I myself rank among these. At 

 a time when orchid-growing was still a mystery to 

 me, I purchased some bulbs of D. cornuta, planted 

 them with innocent confidence, watched them grow 

 and grow without surprise. Not till they were in 

 bloom did I learn, by the excitement of Mr. Godseff, 

 who chanced to pay me a visit, that I had achieved 

 a feat unparalleled. There was no internal evidence, 

 for a dingier object, to be called a flower, could not 

 readily be found. But promptly it was begged for 

 Kew, and most cheerfully despatched. Of course, I 



