THE ORCHID REVIEW. 233 
DIES ORCHIDIAN, 
I was much amused with the article on Orchids by a newspaper corre- 
spondent, reproduced in the last number of the Review (p. 202). That 
remarkable story of the “ village of the demon flowers” is surely a rival of 
the one about the Eulophiella, and it would be rather interesting to know 
how it originated. I picture to myself poor Forsterman and his companion 
making the circuit of that acre of forest wherein trees, undergrowth, and 
everything were loaded down with Orchids, of hues more brilliant than 
anything ever seen or dreamed of before ; how they feasted their eyes upon 
the flowers through their field glasses, at the respectful distance of a hundred 
yards, their noses muffled up the while, being totally unable to reach the 
plants, which would have made their fortunes, on account of the sickening 
odour. How bitter must have been their disappointment—no wonder they 
almost cried—as they slowly retraced their steps. This was worse than 
the dreadful “Protocryptoferox Madagascariensis” and the truculent 
brother-in-law, for even their combined efforts could not protect the 
Eulophiella, and they certainly tried very hard, as everyone who read the 
story must have been convinced. 
But I am a little concerned about that second expedition, for it appears 
that ‘‘on returning to London, Forsterman told this wondrous tale to some 
of the rich Orchid collectors, and an expedition was organised to go in 
search of it ’—that is, the Orchid, not the tale. “The expedition found 
the exact spot, but they gave up in despair of ever being able to more than 
feast their eyes upon the flowers through their field glasses. And there, 
somewhere in the depths of the vast tropic forest, they remain to this day. 
I suppose ‘ they *—the members of the expedition, please note—are waiting 
until that Orchid goes out of flower, in which case I fear its doom is sealed. 
But then, that sagacious plant may have heard of Orchid collectors before, 
and, knowing its weak point, may go on flowering all the 
rather hope this will prove to be the case, for such a plant would adda new 
terror to the Orchid house. Fancy such a plant, and always in flower. I 
wonder our collectors should have taken any trouble about it. But then, 
Orchid collectors are not ordinary mortals, according to our eeeemner 
correspondent. A waggish friend suggests that it must be the ae 
Cattleya,” but if so, the writer forgot to mention the fact, for he states that 
“the rarest of all the varieties of Orchids are the blue ones, and of these 
the list is short indeed, even when those which exist only in the tales of 
Orchid hunters are taken into account.” I am now trying to make out 
what connection there is between the two. 
year round. I 
