CHAPTER XVII 

 HARDY ORCHIDS 



To include Orchids in a series of plants eligible for an 

 unheated greenhouse may seem, at first sight, to be out of the 

 question. Nevertheless, in hardy terrestrial orchids, there is 

 a tolerably wide field open for experiment, and for the sake 

 of those who find in this special class the acme of all that is 

 beautiful in plant life, it is well that it should not be omitted. 

 Terrestrial Orchids include some very fine genera, in which 

 many of the species are hardy, though others of the same 

 genus inhabit the Tropics a well-known example being found 

 in Cypripedium. Besides the handsome Cape Disas the 

 purple- flowered Bletia hyacinthina (China), which was long 

 grown in stove-heat until it was discovered to be quite hardy 

 enough for out-door culture and the hardy Cypripediums 

 there are great numbers of ground-Orchids found in all parts 

 of the Temperate Zone which may be ranged under the 

 popular head of Orchis. The flowers of many of these are 

 very fine, while others possess exceeding interest from their 

 mimicry of various insects, like the Bee and Fly orchises of 

 our own chalk downs and their fringing woodlands. A 

 collection of some of the best of these is well worth growing, 

 and quite sufficient in itself to take the shape of a very good 

 hobby, including both hardy and half-hardy species, though all 

 would need treatment differing from most ordinary plants. It 

 would be well, therefore, for any one taking up their culture 

 to make a speciality of them. To see these plants in their 



