The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-08

cOuectl0n OF orchids is certain to have a
majority of her plants in flower all the
year round.
For beginners the following are the
most easily managed, and furnish the
most distinctive beauties and interest;
and when these have been successfully
cultivated, accumulation will be con-
tlnual delight. Some of them are of
the pendulous class, and grow naturally
on the branches of the lofty trees, adj
herring by tortuous roots to decaying
vegetable matter on them; others are
terrestrial, growing in the earth, while
some are aerial, and subsist entirely on
the atmosphere.
OF the terrestrial orchids one of the
most lovely is the Esp6ritW SGnto, or
dove orchid. 1t was brought to Eng
land from Panama in 1926. Its bulbs,
oval in shape, and of bright green
color, grow above the surface of the
ground; the leaves are lance-shaped
and ribbed; the fower-spike, rising to
the height of four or five feet, forms in
the upper portion raceme of pure
white waxy flowers, twenty or more in
number. Each flower has in its center
remarkable resemblance to a snowy
dove with outspread wings, family dot
ted with lilac. In Panama it is a sacred
emblem, and regarded with supersti-
tious reverence which no one will won
der at who has seen the flower. The
cultivation of this flower is now well
understood, and there are few orchid
houses without ESpsrttu Santo.
The Indian butterfly plant is one of
the most beautiful of the many beauti-
full plants belonging to the genus
Phal@nopSiS, and it is held in the high
est estimation by all orchid-lovers. In
deed, its loneliness has procured for it
the designation of the orchid queen. 1t
is true air-plant, and in its native
woods attaches itself to the branches of
trees by network of fibrous thread
like roots, but they neither penetrate
the bark, nor derive any nutriment
from the wood it covers; they are sup
ported entirely by the atmosphere.
Each stalk supports a single flower,
which is exceedingly like a gorgeous
butterfly, not only in it's general outline,
but in details both of form and color.
The center of the flower is mimicry of
the body of the insect, the sepals repre-
sent in a wonderful manner the antena
of the butterfly, the petals of the wings,
and the labellum, or lip, the expanded
body of the insect.
One plant will bear from twenty to
thirty stalks, each stalk producing in
succession from twelve to fifteen flow
ers. The tints are very variable, but
only in the shades of the two invariable
colors, yellow and brown. In some
flowers the yellow is clear and bright,
shading off to deep orange.
The singular resemblances to ami
mated life taken by orchids are very
numerous, and afford continual interest
to the collector. There is spider
orchid that is very curious, and others
resembling flies, bees, lizards, SWANS,
etc. Another called the CabgstsYp
Uirtde, opens beautiful capote, with
bows and strings complete just the
thing for fairy on summer night.
The whole genus CatGSetuna affords in
pleasure from its remarkable meta
morphoses and masqueradings. The
very same plants have been observed
to bear, at different periods, flowers
totally dissimilar, and again, as if in
mockery, to produce these dissimilar
blossoms in association. The helmet
shaped CataSetatns is peculiarly addicted
to these grotesque changes; but through
all their freaks they preserve large,
brilliant, and fragrant flowers.
But it would take volume of no Or
binary size to point out the beauties and
peculiarities of the different families of
orchids, and can hope to do no more
than arouse an interest in the subject
subject which is wide and diversified
enough to meet all tastes, and to re-
ward any amount of intelligent outlay
and care. No conservatory of miscel-
laneous plants can afford such charm
ing variety as an orchid-house. From
hundreds of terrestrial varieties the
potted plants may be selected. The
hanging orchids contain some of the
most magnificent floral beauties in the
world, and these can be suspended in
baskets, trained along the rafters, or
fastened to blocks of wood, while the
aerial kinds will thrive well if attached
to the walls on the husks of the cocoa
nut. ..lI .tI
No plants are so little liable to disease
or eccident, or so little infested
with insects; but they are certainly of
very aristocratic temper-they dislike
to be mixed with other flowers, and
never do well under such circumstances
The only plants which they tolerate are
the finest kinds of ferns. Those, there.
fore, who hope to rear isolated orchids
in their consevatories will be almost
sure to be disappointed Hmper's Ba-