April cq 2, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
533 
Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man.”—B acon. 
Iroi, 
Edited by J. FRASER, F.L.S. 
SATURDAY , APRIL 22nd, 1899. 
Sre Orchids on the Decline?— This is 
a question to which one might easily 
get an equally balanced reply of yes and no, 
from which it would be fair to infer that 
not only is there considerable diversity of 
opinion on the subject, but that there is 
still a decided and real asset of vitality in 
the question of Orchid culture. From time 
to time we hear of some more or less 
important collection of Orchids coming 
under the hammer and being dispersed ; but 
that is only in the nature of things. When 
the owner of a collection dies, or in the 
course of his lifetime contracts a love or 
enthusiasm for some other hobby, the 
Orchids get dispersed because they can no 
longer receive that attention and personal 
supervision which is necessarv to keep 
them up to the high water mark of com¬ 
pleteness, or general well-being, if indeed 
they can be retained on the establishment 
at all. But these are only subsidiary issues, 
so long as other amateurs can be enlisted 
to fill the ranks of the cultivator. 
A paper on the subject of “ Cool Orchids ” 
was read by Mr. W. Walters, of Kew, at a 
meeting of the Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association on the 13th inst. 
A keen, and diversified discussion followed 
the reading of the paper, and one of the 
questions raised was whether or not Orchids 
were on the decline, the subject being 
debated at greater or less length by most 
of the speakers. Orchids said one had lost 
greatly in popularity as they failed to fetch 
sensational prices like those they did a few 
years ago. On the contrary Lindley’s 
prediction, that they would one day be so 
common that they would be hawked about 
the streets, had not yet been fulfilled ; though 
the speaker argued somewhat illogically 
that such an occurrence could only betaken 
as evidence of their decline in the estima¬ 
tion of growers and collectors. Extremely 
high prices for Orchids, we consider, cannot 
be held as evidence of intense popularity, 
because fancy prices can only be paid by 
the wealthy few, and only the rarer and 
more unique species, varieties, or hybrids 
can command the price. To be sole 
possessor of a particular Orchid is a great 
incentive to the would be buyer to make the 
highest bid ; but that is more a measure of 
individual appreciation or emulation than 
of true popularity, which can only be created 
by the multitude, in proportion to the 
number who can possess and enjoy the 
same particular variety. The case of the 
30,000 dollar Carnation is not exactly on all 
fours with that of a beautiful or rare Orchid, 
for the simple reason that a Carnation of 
good constitution can be propagated so 
rapidly that thousands cf plants may be 
created in relatively a short time. The 
mere fact that a large sum of money had 
been paid for the original would so excite 
the curiosity of thousands of people (not to 
mention other reasons) that a large profit 
could often be realised during the first year 
of distribution. That would be popularity 
certainly, but the chances are that it might 
be short lived. Most of the high priced 
Orchids increase very slowly, if indeed 
certain of them can be increased at all ; and 
though such specimens might maintain 
their reputation for years, how could they 
be regarded as popular seeing that there is 
little or no chance of their coming into the 
hands of the people ? 
Yet another example or two might be 
cited. Carnations have become fifty or a 
hundred fold more popular in this country 
since growers originated a class of border 
varieties of healthy and vigorous constitu¬ 
tion that could be grown by most people 
possessed of a garden. The highly bred 
florists’ flowers were many of them gems 
of great beauty, but owing to long inbreed¬ 
ing they had no constitution and could only 
be kept alive by the careful nursing accorded 
them by the few specialists. Nevertheless 
the new varieties are cheaper than ever 
and proportionately popular. Roses, 
generally, may be placed in the same cate¬ 
gory, for they are relatively cheap, yet enjoy 
as wide a popularity as any single class of 
plants. Zonal Pelargoniums have been 
raised and planted in their thousands and 
tens of thousands, till the flower garden has 
been nauseated with them ; yet, though 
that particular craze has been severely 
scotched, who can say that the old love for 
these common things has died out ? or that 
they cease to be popular over as extended 
afield almost as horticulture itself? By the 
same process of reasoning, Orchids may be 
regarded as popular in proportion to the 
extent of the field they occupy in the world of 
horticulture, let their price be as low as it may. 
At the meeting in question there was 
some close reasoning as to the future pros¬ 
pects of Orchids in this country. Mr. S. 
T. Wright believed that the commercial 
aspect of Orchids would largely rule their 
destiny in|the future ; and that cool Orchids 
chiefly would be the determining factor in 
this issue, both on account of their beauty, 
utility for decorative purposes in many 
ways, their relative cheapness, easy culture 
and the small expense incurred both in the 
matter of labour and the coal bill. 
Such things may be, probably will be, 
and there is room for extensive develop¬ 
ment in this direction ; but we hope the 
day is far distant when that may be the 
chief feature of Orchids in this country. 
Real amateurs,—that is, lovers of Orchids, 
both amongst the landed gentry, and, more 
particularly, amongst our merchant princes 
—are the mainstay of Orchids in Britain, as 
far as variety is concerned ; and we hope 
that this highly desirable phase of modern 
gardening may always be maintained, and 
that the purely commercial aspect of 
Orchids may be merely another phase of it, 
running concurrently with, but not over¬ 
lording the love of Orchids for their own 
sakes as evinced by the amateur. As com¬ 
mercial activity and competition in other 
walks of life continue to increase, it may 
be that Orchids will secure their due pro¬ 
portion of admirers. Hobbies there will of 
a necessity be, for the mind requires relaxa¬ 
tion from the cares of business ; and what 
more enjoyable collection could there be 
than that which contains the greatest 
of variety in a given space ? Half the 
delight in flower culture consists in the 
freshness and novelty with which the plants 
appeal to the owner as they come into 
bloom from year to year, and this can only 
be secured by the presence of many species 
and varieties. The commercial interest 
tends to limit the amount of variety, so 
that one has only to open the door of a 
house or block of houses and behold at a 
glance the 20,000 or 50,000 plants of a sort 
and that is all. 
Tea is said to improve in flavour by being pre¬ 
served in a chest. A connoisseur therefore advises 
that tea be purchased in quantity, so that it may be 
stored. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —We have pleasure 
in making the announcement that Sir Reginald 
Hanson, Bart. M.P., has kindly consented to preside 
at the annual dinner of this charity, which will take 
place atthe Hotel Metropole, on Tuesday, July 18th. 
Poisonous Privet Berries. —Dora James, a child of 
one year and eight months old, ate some berries of 
Privet at Stroud, Gloucestershire, and died. The 
county analyst, at the inquest, stated that he found 
portions of Privet berries in the child's handker¬ 
chief, and traces of them in the stomach. 
Bartlett Pears from Canada.— The Peaches and 
Tomatos sent over by Canada last year were not an 
unqualified success, but experiments may yet lead to 
success with those soft fruits. The fruit growers of 
Canada, however, believe that there is a great 
future for their delicious Bartlett Pears, upon which 
there should be a good run provided they can be sold 
at reasonable prices. 
Fatal effect of Hemlock.—Robert Henry Corlett, 
aged eleven, his brother and several other lads, while 
walking in the meadows, near Douglas, Isle of Man, 
picked up some roots which they took to be 
Radishes. The two brothers ate some of the roots, 
and soon after Robert fell in convulsions upon the 
road, became unconscious, and died soon after. His 
brother became ill after reaching home. The roots 
proved to be those of Hemlock. 
Mr. George M. Ross has recently resigned the 
secretaryship of the Royal Horticultural Society of 
Ireland, through increase and alterations in his 
professional work as a civil engineer. The innate 
love of horticulture which this gentleman possesses 
will make it impossible for him to do other than a 
great deal, in the time he can spare, for the true 
interests of the society he has so long and well 
officially represented. This has been evidenced by 
the as^stance he rendered his successor, Mr. W. H. 
Hillyard, on the spring show. English visitors to 
the Dublin shows will still find Mr. Ross aoxious to 
help them in the urbane manner so characteristic of 
him. It was our privilege to give a portrait of Mr. 
Ross in these columns on November 19th last, vol. 
xv., p. 183. 
The “ Hurst & Son” Musical Society.—The mem¬ 
bers of this society, which was established at the be¬ 
ginning of the present year, in connection with the 
well-known firm of Messrs. Hurst & Son, gave their 
first concert at St. Botolph's Schools, Bisuopsgate, 
on Thursday evening, before a crowded audience, 
when a capital programme of vocal and instrumental 
music was gone through. The proceedings were 
opened by the orchestra, under the able conductor- 
ship of Mr. Edward Sherwood, with a well executed 
“ Fantasia ” from the " Bohemian Girl,” followed by 
songs from Mr. Cummings, "Star of My Soul,” and 
Mrs. Fagg, " Ktllarney,” the latter being loudly en¬ 
cored Mr. Crichton was particularly good with a 
'Cello solo, as also was Mr. Fairley (an old favourite) 
in the song " Love is a Dream ” ; and amongst 
others who contributed songs were Mr. Dixon, "The 
Skipper,” Mr. Baldwin, " Hunting the Fox,” and 
Mr. A. Cox, “ Dreams of My Own Land." Mrs. W. 
Cox gave a “ Piano Solo,” whilst Mr. Tucker, who 
was in his usual " good form," dispensed with much 
skill and ability “ Dr. Marigold's Prescriptions" 
(Dickens). The items on the programme which 
were perhaps most highly appreciated, certainly the 
most loudly applauded, and deservedly so, were the 
violin solos of Miss Sherwood,which were admirably 
rendered, and indicated the possession of a complete 
knowledge of the instrument, skilful fingers, and a 
talented ear. This was especially apparent in her 
rendering of “ Serenade," which by-the-bye, is a 
composition of her brother’s (Mr. E. Sherwood), and 
was greatly appreciated. In the course of the even¬ 
ing, during an interval when light refreshments were 
served, the president (Mr. N. N. Sherwood) briefly 
referred to the formation of the society, its objects 
and aims, and expressed his great pleasure at seeing 
such a large company. The platform was prettily 
decorated with Palms and flowers; and, in addition 
to his other duties, Mr. E. Sherwood ably presided 
at the piano. From the success which attended this 
first public effort, it is safe to predict a prosperous 
future for the society. 
