4 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 
the plants being placed near hot flues, or plunged in tan 
or bark beds. It was thought that a great success had 
been attained if a plant bloomed once before it died. 
The year 1800 may be said to be the real starting-point 
of rational Orchid culture, although, even in the earlier part 
of the nineteenth century, the old traditions still hindered 
progress. In 1800 Aérides odoratum was introduced, this 
being the first East Indian Orchid cultivated in this country. 
In 1817 Sir Joseph Banks brought about the cultivation 
of epiphytal Orchids in light, wicker baskets which were 
suspended in the Orchid house or stove; this is one of 
the most noteworthy events in the early history of Orchid 
cultivation. 
In 1818 Cattleya labiata appeared, and about the same 
time Cypripedium insigne, which has now two or three 
hundred varieties that enthusiasts consider sufficiently dis- 
tinct to bear varietal names. Disa grandiflora and Onci- 
dium Papilio appeared in 1825, when about 180 species 
of tropical Orchids were in cultivation in the Horticul- 
tural Society’s Gardens. This Society gave a great impetus 
to Orchid culture by sending out collectors into distant 
lands, and Dr. Lindley, whilst Editor of the Gardeners’ 
Chronicle, played a no less important part in studying and 
recording the species as they were received in this country. 
The interest in Orchid importing gradually spread, and. 
from the time when Alan Cunningham sent home Austra- 
lian Orchids in 1835 the interest has never flagged, the 
famous Orchid collectors, Lobb, Gardner, Skinner, Hartweg, 
Gibson, and others, sending consignments from time to 
time from various parts of the world. 
The first attempts to grow Orchids in a reasonably low 
