NOTE OF THE WEEK. 



4- 



The Cult of the Orchid. 



proceeded with by both trade and private 

 growers, immense numbers are annually 

 produced, and as they are, for the most 

 part, the result of hybridisation or cross- 

 fertilisation conducted with a view to ob- 



of the Royal Horticultural Society that it 

 is proposed to arrange a conference in con- 

 junction with the exhibition of orchids that 

 will be held at Westminster in November 

 next is a matter of considerable interest, 

 and should give much plea- 

 sure to those who are spe- 

 cially concerned with this 

 fascinating class of plants. 

 It is some years since cul- 

 tivators and raisers have 

 had an opportunity for 

 meeting for the purpose of . 

 discussing points of practical 

 importance relating to the 



and 



Council tain improved forms^ the average merit is 



remarkably high. Seedlings of outstanding 

 merit usually command prices that are 



somewhat high, but after these have been tween orchids and hardy plants to the dis- 



in sufficient numbers to form a distinct fea- 

 ture. This statement has further proof in 

 the small but interesting collections that 

 may be met with in the gardens of amateurs 

 who are able to make arrangements for 

 heating and ventilating the house or liouses 

 when they are away from home during the 

 day. Sometimes comparisons are made be- 



selected^ there remains a goodly proportion 

 l3earing flowers that are at once distinct 



since the last 

 was hekl much 



cult, 



conference 

 has happened. The cultiva- 

 tion of orchids has greatly 

 extended among those classes 

 of the flower-loving commvi- 

 nity whose gardens are fur- 

 nished with the means essen- 

 tial to success in the culture 

 of tender plants, and the 



activities of raisers have not 

 only had the result of largely 

 increasing the number of 

 hybrid orchids, but of creat- 

 ing by hybridisation new 

 genera, of which that formed 

 by the exquisitely beautiful 



odontiodas is the most note- 

 worthy. The changes in the 

 world of orchids h^xve w^ithin 

 a comparatively recent period 

 l^een great, and they have 

 followed each other in such 

 rapid succession that it has 

 not been easy to keep pace 

 \vith them. To those wdio are 



unable to 



divided 



give 



attention 



aristocrats of 

 world/^ 



their un- 

 to these 

 the floral 



advantage of the former^ but no good ser- 

 vice is rendered therebv, because of the 



great difl"erences between the 

 two classes. Both are won- 



-I 



drously beautiful, require 

 skill to grow them to a high 

 degree of perfection, and 

 both must have frequent at- 

 tention to inaintain them in 

 a condition that justify their 

 being assigned a place in a 



Orchids 



well-kept garden. 



have the sheltei 



must 



glass 

 artificial 



and 



of 

 of 



heat 



some amount 



during the 

 greater part of the year, und 

 in return for th's ^shelter and 

 warmth thev vield a wealth 

 of flowers diu'ing the autumn 

 and winter months Avhen the 

 beds and borders in the flower 

 garden are practically desti- 

 tute of floral attractions. 

 There are large numljers of 

 hybrid cypripediums possess- 

 ing much beauty that attain 



their highest degree of per- 

 fection during the winter 

 months, and these ha\e the 

 additional merit of thriving 

 in suburban gardens, brcause 

 of their inimunitv lrr..n the 



deleterious efi^ects of such fog& 

 as reach them. Yet anotlier 



it appears but a few 

 years since cultivators had to 

 depend upon importations, that had been 

 CO lected with an infinity of trouble, and not 

 a little danger, for increasing or replenish- 

 ing then- stocks of the majority of the vari- 

 «'\s kuKls. Now a very <lifrerent state of 

 ^^»ngs obtains. There are importations of 

 orchids as at other periods, but they ar 

 nof?' ^'^^^^^ sP^^king generally, they are 

 not legarded with the importance that was 



caufrn^.i ^'^'^""''^ "^"^y'' The 



sn^ ^^"^^"^ ^he demand for the 



Pecihc forms and varieties of species is 



of bvi^^^''''.'^ '^^P'^^ increase in the number 

 iiL ' ]^ cultivation. Since the rais- 



b seedlings on systematic lines was 



ME F. G. DEEW, 

 Chairman of the Reading Gardeners' Association, 



recommendation is the lengtli? 

 of the period over which the 

 floAvers retain their freshne.ss. 

 and beauty, a point of ninch^ 

 importance to 

 small collections. 



and beautiful, and these are disposed of 



ownei 5 of" 

 One of the- 

 strongest recommendationsj 

 that could well be given or- 

 chids is the great value of 

 the most beautiful of the kind.s flowering; 

 through the usual channels at a relatively during the dullest period of the vear, an^l 

 small cost. This point is of importance be- as the Royal Horticultural Society is ar^ 

 cause there are some who hold the opinit^n ranging its forthcoming exhibition' for the 

 that the cult of the orchid is only adapted purpose of bringing into greater prominence 

 to the conditions that obtain in the gardens the kinds that bloom in autumn and winter, 

 e of the wealthy. No greater misapprehen- there is justification for the belief that the 



sion could well exist, for no classes cf plants 

 grow^n under glass can be cultivated at 

 much less expense than orchids thriving in 



exhibition will be immenselv attractive and 

 of great value from an educational point 

 of view. As the programme has not heem 

 a cool or intermediate house, and the cost arranged, it cannot yet be said wheth^^r 

 of forming a small collection of beautiful winter-flowering orchids will be discussed 

 hybrids and varieties is really not costly, at the conference or not, but a discussion on 

 a.s evidenced by the thousands of gardens the merits of the existing kinds and the 

 of moderate size in w^hich orchids are grown possibility of an increase in number- J^nd 



