400 ON THE BOTANY OF [April, 



ratum, the common St. John's-wort, with which it was indeed 

 united. 



Uffmore Forest produces a still rarer plant than this, viz. one 

 of the Orchids, Epipadis media of Babington. This is the only 

 place where we have seen this form or species, if it be a species, 

 and here it is very scarce. Another form, like the E. ovalis of 

 the same author, is not very uncommon. 



These Orchids are objects of great curiosity. The form of 

 their blossoms is very peculiar, and hence the strange names 

 which they bear: the Bee, the Fly, the Spider, the Monkey 

 and the Lizard Orchis, are examples. These beautiful species 

 abound about the chalk-pits of Surrey and Kent, also around 

 the fields on our chalky downs. Guildford, Dorking, Reigate, 

 Cobham in Kent, Maidstone, Folkestone, and many other parts 

 of these two counties, to which may be added Sussex and Hants, 

 abound with Orchidaceous plants. They are very impatient of 

 cultivation, and cannot be kept for any length of time in a 

 garden. They are unhappily decreasing fast. The rapacity of 

 collectors, as well as the extension of cultivation, threaten the 

 very existence of some of the rarest species. This is not likely 

 to happen to our favourite of Uffmore Forest. The forest there 

 is likely to remain in its present condition for ages. Wood is 

 rather a scarce commodity there, and it would be more profitable 

 to plant trees than to uproot those that still remain. All our 

 Orchids are terrestrial, that is, grow on the ground : whether 

 any of them are attached to the roots of trees or other plants 

 we will not now discuss, but many exotic Orchids are epiphytes 

 (grow on trees) . These have of late been extensively cultivated 

 by the affluent classes who are fond of plants, and the prices 

 realized at some recent sales (Mrs. Lawrence's and the Horti- 

 cultural Society's) remind us of the tulip-mania of the last 

 century. Several of these foreign plants realized prices varying 

 from £10 to £70 : rather costly pets. The keep of these beau- 

 ties is more expensive than that of a large family of children, 

 even in these times when bread, happily, is cheap. But those 

 that have 'Aplenty of meal may indulge themselves with thick 

 pudding," or '^ they who have much pepper may have savoury 

 soup," as the old proverb teaches us. Those who can pay for 

 their hobby have a good right to ride it. We may canter away 

 on ours, but we should not expect our readers to mount their 



