The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-10-05

the bill is reproduced with wonderful exactness
Among other blossoms bearing striking and
quaint resemblances may be mentioned the
Acranthus or spider orchid, the Nanodes or
human head, the CycnOches or swan orchid,' of
which l have one here almost in bloom, the
Cyprip9diunl or 'Venus's slipper and many
Others. Among those most noted for their
beauty and fragrance are the Cdttleya, found in
South America and Guatemala, beautiful In
color, which merges from pure white into
deep purple, and is delightful in fragrance; the
Ldlid, of Mexico, fully as beautiful, but not so
fragrant as the former; the PhdloenOpsiS or EAST
Indian butterfly of beautiful mixture of
colors, and an infinite number of others.
"The first collection of orchids in this country
received public notice in 1888, but they We're
not generally collected until 1880 or thereabouts.
There Is something fascinating about the collec-
tion of these plants which is not possessed by
that OF any Others, and in consequence there are
a great many persons all over the world who
make them their hobby Collections of them
are becoming of increasing frequency all over
the country, agents are kept securing tropical
countries for them, and new ones are constantly
being added to their already immense classified
list There are number of fine collections in
the United States, some particular ones being
worth way up in the thousands Of dollars.
Erastus Corning, OF Albany, N. Y, has the
largest collection in this country, and it proba-
bly, numbers as high as a thousand varieties.
Jay Gould has a fine collection, and also ex-
Governor Ames, of Massachusetts,. The Gar
TcIlS, near DdltlnOTe, some years since naQ an
immense collection, but think it has been dis
persed.
"a considerable business is carried on in the
large cities in the sale of orchids, and frequent
auction sales of them are held in New York
Plants there are sold from one dollar up to five
hundred, according to their rarity and beauty
when in bloom. The highest price can recall
ever paid in this country for single plant was
paid, think, by Ex-Governor Ames, who gave
81 800 for single orchid. AS high as So, 900
has been given for them in England. There the
collection of orchids has become regular
craze, and is carried on much more widely than
II is here. All the plants have mentioned are
those that bring fairly good prices, and very
few II any of them could be bought at under
$5 for single piece fit for reproduction"
The Macalester's Successful Season.
The steamer Manchester has had a very sue
cessful season. 1t is one Of the handsomest and
most completely appointed excursion boats
a1oat. 1t has carried about two hundred thou
sand excurslonists to Mt Vernon and other
points since 1t was put on the river, the last of
May. Capt Blake and Col. McKibbon are al
ways on hand to do everything in their power to
promote the comfort and pleasure of guests,
while all the officers of the boat are obliging and
fill their respective roles to perfection. She
makes three trips day, and is the fastest and
one OF the safest boats on the river. No pleas
anter month in the year for a water outing than
the month of October