CHARACTER OP THE FLOWERS OF ORCHIDS. 51 



me the little flowers of Nephelaphyllum pulchrum! (see 

 Neubert's Gartenmagazin, 1882). How I have meditated 

 about their organization! How often did I change my 

 notes about it! How many sketches did I outline of 

 their ways! And how happy the fellow (of then) was 

 when he, without advice, without elementary knowledge 

 on the subject, reasoned why in this case the labellum 

 was placed upward, and how the other parts conformed 

 to its position! 



Let me refer to a few instances to illustrate our ways 

 and the orchid's inclinations: 



Collector K., of much travel and much renown, was 

 looking over my shoulder while I was trying to repro- 

 duce the sweet blossom of Odontoglossum Cervantesii. 

 " Why, man, they are all standing on their heads! " 

 ' Do you think so?' " Well, of course, those flowers 

 grow the other way." He talked to me, I listened; he 

 assured me, I denied; he placed himself upon experience 

 of ten years of travel in their homes, and ten thousand- 

 fold observations during their culture. I regretted not 

 to be able to concur in his ideas. But when I at last 

 came out flatfooted and denied that such pretty faces 

 could have their eyes where the dimples were placed by 

 nature, K.'s patience was at an end. " I'll fetch you 

 some plants and prove that I am right." K. went, but 

 no plants made their appearance. I came across him 

 in the nursery later on, and quizzed him a little, only 

 to get for an answer: " Yes, with these plants you are 

 right, but they are different in their home." 



I remember a large photograph of Vanda coerulea, 

 much packed about at one time for show and advertise- 

 ment. At first look I felt satisfied that those flowers 

 never grew the way they were represented. Upon in- 

 quiry, I learned that the flowers had wilted, and were 

 fastened to such positions through wires. 



