March, i<)iS-] 



'I'lTI': ORCini) WORM). 



137 



Orchids became a mutual topic between us, 

 not forgetting, of course, my position to him 

 as a servant. His kindly nature was always 

 ready to give others pleasure in the hobby, 

 which at that period was only possible to 

 those who possessed the means. Often, in 

 after years, he came into my office and called 

 out "Orchid," for that was the nickname he 

 gave me, "how does your work stand?" 



" So-and-so, su-." " Oh, well, let Mr. 



finish that, put on your hat and coat, and 

 jump into my brougham, and we will have an 

 hour or two in the garden. We were soon 

 bowling along through H)'de Park westwards 

 to the one spot I always had my eye on. 

 Many hours of happy memory have I spent 

 there. 



My thirst for more knowledge of Orchids 

 increased, and Kew Gardens saw me a 

 frequent visitor, where it was m the Orchid 

 houses that I mostly found myself. As I 

 knew, or thought, that growing these aristo- 

 crats of the floral world would never come 

 within my reach, I could at least read and 

 learn about them. Accordingly, when means 

 allowed it, I bought "Williams' Orchid 

 Manual," also " Burbidge's Cool Orchids and 

 how to grow them," books which stood me m 

 good stead in after years. Orchids grew m 

 my heart if they did not m my houses, but a 

 consummation of my desire came sooner than 

 ever I dreamt of. One day, when m the 



garden of Mr. , he said to me, " Orchid, 



would you like to grow some of these plants ?" 

 " I should indeed, sir, but that is more than I 

 can ever expect to do." " Well," he said, 

 " only look after them, and if anything turns 

 up interesting let me know." This latter 

 event did to the satisfaction of us both, but 

 of this later on. 



A few days afterwards, it seemed weeks, I 

 began to think the matter was forgotten, my 

 patience being almost exhausted at not 

 receiving the plants. However, along they 

 came in due course. My delight was 

 unbounded, to be the actual possessor of a 

 collection of Orchids. There were about one 

 hundred plants of all sorts, Cattleyas, Laelias, 

 Dendrobiums, Oncidiums, Cypripcdiums (a 

 good few), and various other kind-. Rest that 



night was ratlier limited, my only thoughts 

 l)eing for my plants. 1 was fortunate in 

 having a fairly good-sized house, a home- 

 made structure, which took many months to 

 complete. A division was soon made to 

 accommodate those varieties requiring more 

 heat than others. Staging the plants m their 

 xarious positions was soon accomplished, and 

 when finished they certainly looked charming 

 with a few good-sized ferns arranged with 

 them, idle means of heating the two du isioiis 

 had already been given me, so there was no 

 anxiety on that score. The means whereby 

 to obtain the necessary atmospheric moisture 

 were soon applied in various ways, having 

 noticed the methods used in another collection, 

 especially the double staging, which was 

 copied as nearly as possible. 



My plants flourished to a certain extent and 

 gave a great deal of pleasure, considering the 

 limited time available to attend to their wants, 

 but nevertheless I had some very satisfying 

 results. I well remember a specimen 

 Denclrobium nobile, m a very large pot, with 

 many growths, which flowered more by good 

 luck than cultural judgment. However, the 

 treatment suited it and one Spring gave me in 

 return 200 blooms ; it was a fine sight and 

 the admiration of all who saw it. I never had 

 near so many blooms afterwards. Another 

 Orchid that flowered well in the early eighties 

 was Oncidium leucochilum, which threw up a 

 spike with several side branches and bearing 

 over 50 blooms. It was magnificent and, to 

 my mind, a lovely thing, not to be despised 

 even m these days of hybrids. How is it we 

 do not see much of this Orchid now? 1 was 

 very proud of this plant for the following 

 reason :- I had been exhibiting for a year or 

 two at the annual shows of the Surrey 

 Floricultural Society, now extinct. The usual 

 run of greenhouse plants, viz., coleus, fuchsias, 

 double petunias, tuberous begonias, etc., were 

 great fa\ourites, and perhaps I may be 

 pardoned for stating that defeat never came 

 to me in the latter class for over ten years. 

 Well, this Oncidium was in the pink of 

 perfection at show time, consequently it was 

 staged as a specimen plant in bloom. Needless 

 to say, f pulled off the first prize. It was 



