ACCORDING TO SEASON 



But the uninitiated probably allow their imag- 

 inations to run more rife with the orchids than 

 with any other flowers. Usually they are quite 

 positive as to the general correctness of their con- 

 Popular ception of an orchid, and unless you are prepared 

 C cfanor? to ^ e ma de the object of a very genuine aversion, 

 chid y OU w jn beware of trying to convince them of the 



error of their ways. In response to any such at- 

 tempt they will defiantly challenge you : " Well, 

 then, what is an orchid ?" and woe betide you if 

 you cannot couch your reply in half a dozen 

 words of picturesque and unmistakable descrip- 

 tion. The term orchid is dear to their hearts. 

 Whenever they discover a rare and striking 

 flower they like to grace it with the title, and are 

 sure to bear you a grudge for depriving them of 

 the pleasurable power of conferring this mark of 

 floral knighthood at will. Last year a friend of 

 mine happened for the first time upon the lovely 

 fringed polygala. Her delight in its butterfly 

 beauty was unbounded. Having learned its name 

 and studied its odd form she turned appealingly 

 to me : " Could you ever call it an orchid ? " she 

 asked ; and I was unpleasantly conscious of my 

 apparent churlishness in refusing to ennoble, even 

 temporarily, so exquisite a creation. 



" I like flowers, but I hate to pull them to 

 pieces," is the cry of the lazy nature-lover. Surely 



6 



