THE PROGRESS OF ORCHID CULTURE IN AMERICA. 145 



Mrs. Gardner Brewer, at Newport, R. I., numbers about 400 

 plants, nearly half of which are large specimens of Vandas, Cypri- 

 pediums and Angrsecums. There is one other small collection in 

 Newport, but it is not large enough to notice. 



One of our most promising local collections is that of E. W . 

 Gilmore, at North Easton, Mass., whose plants have often been 

 exhibited here. Mr. Gilmore has constructed a north house, 

 where he has over 500 well grown Odontoglossums and other 

 cool orchids. This collection numbers altogether 1,275 plants ; 

 among them 90 Phalfenopsids, 100 Cattleyas, 140 Dendrobiuras, 

 etc. The plants are cultivated in three houses well adapted to 

 their growth, and there are few if any better collections of the 

 size of this to be found. 



Among other small collections, ma}' be noted that of Henry 

 Graves, of New York City, who has a few hundred orchids and is 

 building a house, and another is that of M. Shaw, at Eau Claire, 

 Wisconsin, who grows about 500 orchids in a house 18X60 feet. 

 In addition to the growers I have mentioned there are, as I have 

 said, some others scattered over the country, but their collections 

 are small. I hoped to be able to give some idea of the size of 

 each of these, but my requests for information have not met with 

 the desired responses. I have, however, given data enough to 

 enable those who are interested in the culture of orchids to form 

 some conception of the growth and extent of the orchid fever in 

 this country. This paper is of course superficial in character, but, 

 as matter of record, it has its points of interest for those who 

 give any time or attention to the subject it discusses. 



Before closing, it is desirable to refer to the primary rules which 

 ought to govern orchid culture in this country and this latitude. 

 The great obstacles to the successful growth of orchids, as I have 

 found after some years of experience and personal attention to them, 

 are — First. The lack of proper and constant atmospheric moisture 

 during the season of active growth. Second^ The want of a con- 

 stant supplj' of fresh air during growth, and still more during 

 the resting period, from November to April. Third, The lack of 

 cleanliness. Fourth, Over shading the houses during growth, as 

 well as during the resting period. These four points are the 

 cardinal ones in orchid culture, all other requirements, such as 

 potting material, proper receptacles for growth, etc., being of little 

 moment beside these ; and want of proper knowledge of them all, 

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