296 THE ORCHID REVIEW. { OCTOBER, Igo6. 
up again, have splashed my way along this muddy channel until I emerged 
into the light of day, but it is nothing when one is keen, and these are the 
places where the filmy ferns come from, 
Having acquired all the best Orchids of this district ; I am now turning 
my attention to the aroids and ferns, Lycopods, Selaginellas, Davallias, and 
Platycerims. Caryota is here, and resembles a tree Adiantum. Silver 
ferns also, but I have never seen a gold fern, though there are lots in other 
parts of Java. Old coffee gardens, as well as the jungle, are good finds for 
Orchids and ferns. An old cedar or other log that has lain for years under 
shade is generally covered with various lichens, mosses, and a dozen 
different ferns. Truly it is an ideal spot in which to cultivate a hobby, and 
for those with eyes to see, what a wealth of material, to interest and 
instruct. To the right of me an active volcano 13,000 feet high, to the left 
another, smaller, though equally lively at times, away in front of me, below 
the entire plain, with its white sugar mills dotted about, and the paddy 
fields and maize patches of the natives, and the sea showing faintly in the 
distance. 
For the horticulturist or the entomologist, or those with a taste for the 
simple life and solitary, there are worse places than Java ; every conceivable 
colour in plant, shrub and tree, gorgeous insects and painted caterpillars of 
all kinds, moths and butterflies of all shapes, sizes and colours. Here you 
may study at first hand earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, walk upon an 
extinct crater, known as the ‘‘ Sand Sea,’ whose dimensions I should be 
sorry to state off hand, but walking across diametrically will take you com 
siderably over an hour, and in the centre is another small crater, known 4s 
the Bromo, up to the rim of which you can climb and look at, if the day 
should be fine, a seéthing, boiling sulphur spring, with a smell of brimstone 
pervading everything around. A wild, desolate spot, the crater being of a 
perfect shape like an inverted cone, in subdued colours of grey and dull red, 
the place might stand as a fitting entrance to the ‘‘ Hades” of Dante, or 
anyone else. Planting life is lonely, and very isolated, but I defy anyone 
to say it is dull. 
I am glad to say I can take an interest in things—Orchids, flower 
plants, and ferns—and prowl around with an eye to the elevation at which 
I find myself, and fill up any spare time on my hands. _In the garden are 
various Acacias, Gardenias, Allamandas, Brugmansias, Peony roses; 
Syringas, Durantas, Cassias, Eucharis and other lilies, Zinnias, Dracenas 
Gloxinias, China asters, Tree ferns, Begonias, Caladiums, Mulberries, 
Lemons, Citrons, Bananas—but I have wandered off the track, and 24) 
from describing my Orchid farm. 
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