614 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Odontoglossum. — There are no Orchids more suitable for 

 culture by those in possession of a greenhouse than the many 



varied and 

 beautiful Odonto- 

 glossums. Prac- 

 tically all the 

 species can be 

 procured in an 

 imported condi- 

 tion for a few 

 shillings each. I 

 advise buying im- 

 ported plants be- 

 cause there is 

 always more in- 

 terest derived by 

 growing and 

 watching, the de- 

 velopment of un- 

 flowered plants 

 than it is possible 

 to get out of plants 

 of which the variety has 

 been proved. What makes 

 this plan still more en- 

 couraging is the chance 

 that always exists of unique 

 forms flowering from amongst 

 imported plants, and, if one 

 is fortunate enough to be 

 the possessor of such a 

 variety, the investment is 

 likely to yield a profitable 

 return. A friend of mine 

 bought for half-a-crown in 

 the sale rooms an imported 

 plant together with four others 

 in a bag. After growing the 

 plant for two years it flowered, 

 was again brought to the sale 

 rooms, and disposed of by 

 auction for 120 guineas ! It 

 is quite possible for anyone 

 at the present time to buy 

 a single plant of Odonto- 

 glossum crispum {Alexandra) 

 in an imported condition that would realise even a higher figure 

 than that quoted, for no one can foretell what particular variety 



Fig. 395. — Masdevallia tovarensis. 



