(i9) 



New World its greatest numbers occur in Brazil and other 

 parts of northern South America. In temperate regions 

 relatively few species are found, while in very cold countries 

 they are entirely absent. Most of the tropical forms are 

 epiphytes, that is, they grow upon trees and usually have 

 bulb-like or thickened stems and fleshy leaves for the 

 conservation of their water supply, as, from their habitat, 

 this supply must be precarious. In temperate regions 

 nearly all of the species are terrestrial, and have thin leaves, 

 the soil about their roots serving to protect them from the 

 cold and also giving them a more constant water supply: 

 they do not, therefore, need pseudobulbs or thickened 

 stems. Coming from all parts of the world as they do, 

 their blooming time varies greatly, so that at almost any 

 time of the year, be it winter or summer, some of these 

 interesting plants may be found in bloom. 



At range 2 is another large collection of orchids. 



On the central bench is an interesting palm, the double 

 cocoanut {Lodoicea maldivica), a native of the Seychelles 

 Islands, also known as the coco de mer, and coco des 

 Maldives, and one of the rarest palms in cultivation. 

 The tree in its native wilds attains a height of ninety feet, 

 bearing aloft a magnificent crown of green leaves which 

 make it an important feature of the landscape. This is 

 the only plant in this house not a member of the orchid 

 family; it is kept here for cultural reasons. 



Conservatory Court. There are three attractive features 

 here during the open season, viz., the display of tulips in 

 the spring, followed by the collection of desert plants, and 

 the water lily collection. The water lilies may be found 

 in two tanks, one in each end of the court. In the easterly 

 tank are placed the hardy sorts, such as are able to with- 

 stand the severe cold of our winters, which remain per- 

 manently where they are, winter and summer. In the 

 westerly pool are the tender kinds, or such as require pro- 

 tection during the winter, and many of these are stored in a 

 warm cellar during winter and placed on view again in the 



