than Ibriiis the most splendid and extraordiaary Ijegan to make their appeanince; produced too by plants which had
been hrouglit from countries whose Orcliidaceous Flom was supposed to possess little of either novelty or interest.
From Guiiinn for instiince, which, according to Aublet, contained only two or three species, nearly a hundred have
been alreatiy received, imd in the number those marvellous plants Coryanthes macuUita, and Cycnockes Loddigesii,
whicli, when tliey flowered for the first lime, were found not merely to be new to sciencc, but to constitute genera
with which botanists were ¡iltogether unacquuiuted.
Having now explained the cause which has so long delayed the growth of a passion for the Orchidacei« among
us, we will next proceed to sliew why, in our humble opinion, a popularity so great, and tJierefore so likely to wane,
should in iheir case appear destined to endure; nnd to do this sntisfactorily, it is clear we must notice some ol
tlie numerous modes in which they commend themselves to our attention and regard. Of these tlie most attractive is,
perhaps, their beauty; and of their superiority in this respect, the most sceptical are even note beginning to be
convinced—e\'en 7ioio, we saj-, when our collections are only in their infancy, and when by Ihr the great majority
of the most maguificeut species have flowered with us either imperfectly or not at all; but what when we come to see,
in all tlieir glory, and arranged in our stoves with all the advantages of mutual contrast and lusuriajit foliage,—such
plajiis as the Grammaiophyllums and Saccolabiums of the Spice Islands I or the Detidrobiums of India!! or the
Ca/i/eyas, Sobra/ias, S/anhopeas, and 0}icidiiims * of America!!! all of which
"In colour though varied, io beauty mey vie;"
then, /ken, at least, all will admit that the eye never before rested on a mass of such surpassing loveliness, composed
as it will be of an assemblage of flowers, each of which is considered the choicest ornament of the country where it
spontaneously grows.
And then their fragrance ! We question whether even " Araby the blest" can boast of imy perfumes that can at
all compete in sweetness with those exhaled by such plants as Aitgracum odoratisshnmn (Liudley MSS), Tetrapeltis
fragrans, JErides odoratmn, and Epidendrum aromaliam (Tab. X. of this \V"ork). Other species emit odours
which remind the recipient of the smell of a druggist's shop, of the milk of the cocoa-nut, of fresh hay, of wall-flowers,
violets, pomatum, aniseed, and angelica, of noyau, cinnamon, allspice, citron, musk, and honey. -{- Some of these yield
no fragrance, except in the day-time, but there are others which, like Epidendrtim voc/urnum nnd Brasuvola nodosa,
are aromatic only by night, and there are none, we believe, which are positively offensive at any hour either of the night
or day.
Another characteristic of the tribe is the long duration of their blossoms. This assertion will appear to contradict
what we before remarked, respecting the fleeting nature of some of the most extraordinary kinds; and, unfortunately, it
is but too true in the case of such genera as S/anhopea, Cu/asetmn, Cycnoches, and Coryan/hes, which stand
pre-eminent for the large size and strange configuration of their flowers: in many, however, of the more beautiful,
though less complex forms, such as Leelia and Ca/tleya, and we may add with scarcely an exception, the whole tribe
of Epidendreee, the flower-spikes remain in perfection for weeks, and even sometimes for months together. Even in
Vandea;, where the genera are more short-lived than in any other division of the order, we know of none so fugitive as
Conjanthes, which continues nevertlieiess in beauty for nearly two <lays. They bear carriage remarkably well, and
while in blow they may be removed with safety (and sometimes even with advantage to themselves), into apartments of
ordinary temperature, where their duration is much greater tLaJi in a stove. Indeed, it is easy to foresee the arrival,
and that loo at no distant period, of the time when their flowers will appear as much "at home" in the British drawingroom
as in the Mexican temple, and when they will be prized as highly by the English as by the Indian belie.
We would next direct attention to a circumstance connected with their cultivation, which seems to place
the family in a most advantageous light; we mean the much greater amount of interest which will be afforded by even
a small house, if devoted to them, than could possibly be derived from one of four times the extent, if filled with plants
of ajiy oilier description. Their superiority in this respect shews itself in a variety of ways; in the first place,
the space required for each individual is usually very small, and while the shelves, stages, or even flues, are preferred
by some of the species, others ofthc true Air-plant and Dendrobium habit, may be suspended over their heads, so tiiat
two distinct tiers of vegetation are thus obtained. In the next place, the interest in the Orchideous House ts never
suffered /o ßaij, something is constantly going on, eitlier the opening of the flow er.s is to be expected, or the progress
• Sliodd tlicrc be nn)', cspcclnlly among tlic »rtcr KX, vho may Ii« ¿i<po»nl u> csvil al Ilm hard numea which Botjiiiiti have given lo lIiMO planu, llic fair objccton
may mlopt (if llity prefer ibcm) lha»« hy wbidi they axe kno>ni in tlicir rnjwclivr IrxoUtie»; Kub a< the faUowing, for «ample, wliirii ore l)ii' timfle uppellfllioiii of wmc
of llie final of the Mcxiean .pccie», rii. "Tauhsiiol]," .imtiMuhlli,"." CwUonlc co»ochiU." a.icliilüc l«iK:tli.uhxoehill." /Cr. Lib. 8, Cap, 7.
t Bulkfpi^lhm «
of development in the leaves and pseudo-bulbs may be iniirkcd, or the progress of a young shoot has to be observRil,
or the life-and-death struggles of a recent importiition have to be watched over, and that loo with a degree of cure and
anxiety that could never be felt for ordinary plants. Then there are the seasons of growth and of rest, each of which
has an interest peculiar lo itself; since during the fir.st the greatest change occurs in the circumstance.s and appearance
of the plants, while ihiring the second the greatest nuuiber of Iheiii flower;—and thus, throughout the dreary
mouths of Winter , which, in the majority of Conservatories, is the season of nakedness and inaction, the Orchidaceous
House is gayer than in the most glowing days of Summer. * The piiuits too witli which it is stored are evergreens in
the strictest sense of the word, and realize the
" Cnrpitiir;
a far higher d of the Latin poet in degree than is to be s een elsewhere; for while many of their number retain Ihe same
leaves in perfect health and beauty for six or eight seasons together, there lu-e none which lose them in a shorter period
than twelve months, f II is likewise worthy of remark, that the species which arc the most, nnwilling to part with
their natural advantages, are also the most loth to change tlie abode which has been artificially afforded them; and
tliey may therefore, when once firmly established in a suitable tenement, be left in undisturbed possession of it for ten
or more years in succession;—thus relieving the cultivator from the unsightly changes and continual shillings whicli
stove-plants in general are wont to require. J
But the appeanince of the genuine Air-plants, when suspended from the rafters of the Orchidaccous House, forms,
perhaps, its most characteristic feature. And wonderful it is to see these " children of the sun " || thrusting their hing
tortuous roots into the surroundiug atmosphere, nnd niuiiitiLiniiig the most vigorous health with no other support than
what that pure element affords them ;—thus reversing as it were the settled laws of Nature; for while other planis are
compelled to seek their coarse subsistence from the ground, onr Orchidaceie, like unearthly beings, are enabled to
live solely upon air.
Even the rarity of the tribe, and the difficulties and expense attendant upon their cultivation, although they may
have the effect of diminishing the number of their votaries, will at the same time tend to strengthen the devotion
of such as have the courage to encounter, and Ihe means to overcome those formidable impediments. It is indeed,
probable, that Orchi{iaceous culture will always continue in a (comparatively) few hands; and that it will, therefore, be
pursued with the same ardour in the np|)cr walks of life, that already, in a humbler sphere, attends the cultivation of
the many beautiful varieties of the tulip, auricula, and carnation. Some, perhaps, there may be, who, looking only at
the greater facilities afforded by the latter, inny be disposed to question the importance of the former in a social point
of \iew: but while we admit tlie superior value of whatever is placed within the reach of the great mass of mankind,
•we must at the same time maintain that nothing ought to be condemned or disregarded, merely because it can nevc:r be
extensively diffused. Few will TOIuc what all may possess: so long, therefore, as each class has enjoymenL'! .suited to
its circumstances and position, we are satisfied that the happiness of the community at large will be tiir more eflectually
promoted, than if all were interested in the same objects, or occupied with the same pursuits. The reciprocal pleasure
which the lovers of " florist's (lowers " and of " rare plants " may derive from the sight of their respective collections,
is a sufficient example of the truth of our assertion.
• In the coll«aon of the A.
bor, altlioLgh specimen« in flower may nt ùll time» be Ècen, Marcii and April, in the Spring, and October and November, in t
ills; ibc imcrvciiing period is ••growing «eoson" wich it Ioibí majority of l!ic «pície», mory of nWch come Inio blow jiut before
Iinbtr iuiniediutely aller ila timiiiintion. Tlieni are, hou'ercr, soretal lliat lltiwcr at iiiicenaLi periodi! olhen üiat lioxer nil tbe yi
re eunccmed to my, nirtrfioiKr al atí.
Aulmnn, are perhopj Iho pi>«l «10
eoDLieiiccmcnt, aiiil n «W gresier i
rouiid ; and likcviiw a fuw thai, we
i We are now. of eourse, .penUng of and
die year; bui tbere aiv dive« «cigli ty reiuonj wby line «liould irai he odniitl«! in
"hich ore sometime» dcstilu» of Irave» for a «hort tic
iduce thoy are quilc ai frci[Liently fuiiud amUr trcn ai
doubtfld whether thcj- ouglil
«d m»l, of the latter lose their lenvr« und entirely (ll»ippear for hnlf
Hon«, propuriy « callcd. Tliure are, also, a fc. af Uie
be cluwd «rilh Ihe lurroitrial «pecies, rallier tlum widi tiie epiphyiet,
apply m0T\j partieularly Io ipecie» of snnie of the caulraccnt aad «low^gTOwinj;
II All Ihe Orchiducno wlilcli oro really entitled to tbc name of " Air-pioni»" urt-of Hatlm exiraclion, and conttitule a wcll.dclinodsection cf iho " /Wi f f " group,
which ia teailily dUtiiigiiishcdliy In |>radinr liohil fruin the coirrapenillng group nfiho llat. whtTc henrj' muses iif picudo-hulbs luiirp the place of tlic long ond graceful
.lems cf Ihc Eiut. ll is iinl o Mille »ingultir that the Imliit of many of the South Amcrlcao EpidcnJr^a approaehe. limi of the oriental ranJt^ &r more closely Iban any
genero of llieir own tribe have been ob>cr\ed lo do in Ibo former couultj-.
^ r i j « txlarnlam anbrd-s prolwlily, llic Iwst esumiple of o Iruc iUr-plnnl with which wo are at present acqumuled, for II will grow fiwly, for any length of time, if
merely suspeniled by a wire from the ruof of n tuoi« »love. A plant ..flbii species, in 0>e possession of tbo Missti. LOBBIOEJ, has otlflined an ejlraordiiuiT)' ñ», and when
loaded, in spring, with tliiny or forty liimchc. of its beameom flowers, form, an objoct uf unsurpassed leveliaeas, «id affords u. a glimp,, ef «Imi oi
Some persons, seeing plants of this description sealed in pots anioiig pieces of decayed wood or peol, Imogino that they derive llieir nutriment fr
nllhougb such Ireolnicnl ii purely artificial, and merely designed to supply them with moistiue more perfccdy llinii could otlierwiic be done.
• coUection