4 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



the plants being placed near hot flues, or plunged in tan 

 or bark beds. It was thought that a great success had 

 been attained if a plant bloomed once before it died. 



The year 1800 may be said to be the real starting-point 

 of rational Orchid culture, although, even in the earlier part 

 of the nineteenth century, the old traditions still hindered 

 progress. In 1800 Aerides odoratum was introduced, this 

 being the first East Indian Orchid cultivated in this country. 

 In 1817 Sir Joseph Banks brought about the cultivation 

 of epiphytal Orchids in light, wicker baskets which were 

 suspended in the Orchid house or stove ; this is one of 

 the most noteworthy events in the early history of Orchid 

 cultivation. 



In 1818 Cattleya labiata appeared, and about the same 

 time Cypripedium insigne, which has now two or three 

 hundred varieties that enthusiasts consider sufficiently dis- 

 tinct to bear varietal names. Disa grandiflora and Onci- 

 dium Papilio appeared in 1825, when about 180 species 

 of tropical Orchids were in cultivation in the Horticul- 

 tural Society's Gardens. This Society gave a great impetus 

 to Orchid culture by sending out collectors into distant 

 lands, and Dr. Lindley, whilst Editor of the Gardeners' 

 Chronicle, played a no less important part in studying and 

 recording the species as they were received in this country. 

 The interest in Orchid importing gradually spread, and 

 from the time when Alan Cunningham sent home Austra- 

 lian Orchids in 1835 the interest has never flagged, the 

 famous Orchid collectors, Lobb, Gardner, Skinner, Hartweg, 

 Gibson, and others, sending consignments from time to 

 time from various parts of the world. 



The first attempts to grow Orchids in a reasonably low 



