THE ORCHID REVIEW. 253. 



which afterwards expanded, and proved quite different in the spotting, 

 though retaining the same excellent shape. This also was photographed, 

 and it is interesting to note the differences. The first flower has the dorsal 

 sepal unspotted, and the lateral pair show one and two spots, while the 

 petals have each two spots, one on either side being elongated into a broad 

 line. In the second flower there is a cluster of seven or eight partially 

 confluent spots in the centre, and five or six more disconnected ones on 

 each lateral sepal. The petals have respectively two and three round spots, 

 but in the lip the chief difference consists in the upper flower having 

 larger spots. Both sepals and petals are remarkably broad and short, the 

 latter measuring if and if inches across, and this gives the flowers a very 

 round appearance, besides being nicely toothed and undulated. It is 

 unnecessary to say that the plant will be taken great care of, and it will 

 be interesting to note its behaviour another season, when the plant becomes 



ORCHIDS IN THE NEW YORK MARKET. 



On February 23rd, 1901, a lecture was given to the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society by Mr. Patrick O'Mara, of New York, entitled, 

 "A Quarter Century's Evolution in American Horticulture," which has 

 just been published in the Society's Transactions, and which contains the 

 following reference to Orchid culture. Mr. O'Mara's connection with the 

 business began in the winter of 1874-75, and ne remarks :— " Orchids, with 

 the exception of Cypripedium insigne, Dendrobium nobile, Bletia Tanker- 

 villeae (or Phaius grandifolius), Peristeria elata, and Zygopetalum were 

 unknown, and only a few of these found their way to market, mainly from 

 private collections. The glorious Cattleya had not yet made its appearance. 

 There is a well authenticated story of its first appearance in a Broadway, 

 New York, flower store. A noted beau, who called in every morning for 

 his boutonniere, was always looking for something new. The proprietor 

 had obtained a Cattleya flower, and had it safely stored in the ice box 

 awaiting his appearance. He came. Reverently the flower was placed in 

 his button-hole ; silently he was turned toward the mirror. There was an 

 air of mystery, the play of an artist, about the whole performance, and then 

 the climax ; 25 dollars for the flower, which was paid with alacrity. It is 

 further stated that for many days thereafter the same gentleman called 

 regularly as usual for his Orchid, but the price had dropped to 15 dollars. 

 No wonder that some of our millionaires decided to go into the business of 

 raising them. It is difficult to get statistics on cut flowers which are 

 reliable, but from the best information obtainable I feel safe in saying that 

 the value of Orchid flowers sold annually in the New York Market for 



