16 ORCHIDS. 
One can readily believe that a sight of the magnificent 
growths, the rare fruits and endlessly variegated orchid beauties 
overspreading all, in semi-tropical forests and valleys, must give 
a sense of reality to the picture fancied by the great English 
poet as the Eden of our first parents :— 
Thus was this place 
A happy rural seat of various view, — 
Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm; 
Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind, 
Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true, 
If true, here only, and of delicious taste: 
Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks 
Grazing the tender herb, were interposed; 
Or palmy hillock or the flowery lap 
Of some irriguous valley spread her store, 
Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose. 
More of these orchid plants are already known than exist 
of all the different grasses. What has brought to pass the 
extraordinary diversity in this grand flora is not only a curious 
question, but, since the botanical experiments and researches of 
our own days,—especially those of the eminent English natural- 
ist, Mr. Darwin,—a subject of fascinating interest. We may 
safely say, no doubt, that very great changes of beautiful color, 
fragrance, and curious form, as well as still multiplying varieties 
of orchids, have resulted largely from three causes: — 
1. From climatic changes through which this earth has 
passed during unknown thousands of ages. It will not be ques- 
tioned that the present Arctic region once enjoyed semi-tropical 
warmth, at least; while what are now the temperate latitudes an- 
ciently and long endured, more or less, the rigors of a glacial age. 
