4 o 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



earlier introductions were several species of epidendrum, such as E. cochleatum, 

 E. fragrans, and others, and these we find were expected to grow in a compost consisting 

 of decayed wood and leaves, the pot containing them being plunged in tan, as in the 

 case of pines in structures, kept at a great heat. Even at this length of time one feels 

 sorry for the orchids exposed to such unnatural conditions. 



Time after time orchids of various kinds were sent home from the West Indies, from 

 India and China, by people who, seeing them growing naturally, had been struck by 

 their beauty, and wished to see them cultivated in this country. But usually they came 

 only to die, for no one had found out a way to establish them, and as fast as they were 

 imported they were doomed to confinement in these stuffy overheated stoves, where an 

 end was soon put to their existence. 



About the beginning of the present century Messrs. Loddiges, a then famous firm of 

 nurserymen at Hackney, took up their culture with considerable spirit, so much so that 

 for very many years they were considered the chief authorities upon them. One of their 

 earliest introductions was the beautiful Aerides odoratum, a lovely orchid, and though 

 not exactly a popular species now, yet a useful one, and a good deal grown. From 

 this time onward many other fine kinds were introduced by this famous firm and others, 

 including Mr. Bateman, who, at Knypersley Hall, in the "thirties," was getting well 

 known as a cultivator. The Duke of Devonshire, too, was forming his collection about 

 that time, or at all events largely increasing it, and in 1837, or thereabouts, many very 

 fine species were sent home by his collector, Mr. Gibson. But in such bad odour were 

 orchids getting, as cultivated plants, that it seemed as if their requirements would never 

 be understood. 



The many collectors in various parts of the world sent home glowing descriptions of 

 their discoveries and were naturally not a little disappointed at the non-success of 

 cultivators. The Messrs. Veitch were possibly somewhat later in the field of orchid- 

 collecting, but when their travellers, the brothers Lobb, were sent out they found many 

 choice and lovely species, but whether the plant came from the Alpine regions in Peru 

 or the Brazilian mountains, the stifling heat of the jungles in India, or the more 

 temperate Himalayas, all on arrival were subjected to the same treatment as to tempera- 

 ture. The effect, as may be expected, was that some of the stronger heat-loving kinds 

 came through the ordeal fairly well, but the majority at once succumbed to the unnatural 

 conditions. The change to a more rational mode of culture was a very slow one, for the 

 idea that orchids, one and all, needed a great amount of heat, was very firmly rooted. 



