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

the collection and cultivation of orchids. These
strange subjects of Flora seem to exert a fasci-
nation over the human mind such as none of
their myriad fellow-subjects possess. The al
most infinite variety of their forms, their won
derful peculiarities, their striking resembances
to insects and animals, their delicate fragrance,
and their richness of color explain their charm.
The colors of the rainbow does not begin to
express the cbromatic harmonies and fantasies
this interesting plant presents to the eye.
Every imaginable shade, color, combination,
and blending of shades is to be found. Pearly
whlteness of petal gives beauty to one variety,
purple of royal richness to another, while still
another is made exquisite by combination of
the beautiful green of tender young grass and
the glorious crimson of the setting sun. There
are thousands of varieties, and they vary in size
from the diminutive blossom a quarter of an
inch in diameter to one with pendant streamers
four or five feet in length. They assume all
sorts of rare and fantastic shapes. In one we
see u mans head, in another dove, and in still
Others frog or a spider Their fragrance va
res between the most delicate sweetness and
the most penetrating pungency. Some are ugly,
some are wonderfully beautiful, but all bear the
impress of a delicate, indeinable something
which stamps them at once the elite of the
flower kingdom.
No wonder, then that with all these varied
attractions and sources of interest the popularity
of the orchid is constantly increasing. 1t is an
expensive flower, and has not yet found its way
into general use, but there is scarcely any per
son who has not at one time or another become
a victim to its charms Orchid blossoms sell
seldom for less than 81 each, and consequently
they do not find their way very extensively into
bouquets or interior decorations
Made up into bouquets they have lasting
qualities enjoyed by scarcely any other flower.
An orchid in the corsage of ballroom belle re-
mains as fresh at the end of the evening as it
was when plucked.
There are only two or three private collectors
or growers of orchids in Washington. There is
a collection in the Botanical Gardens, another
in the conservatory at the White House, and
ono florist grows them for use in his trade.
Probably the largest collection in the city, how
ever, is that owned by Mr.. Thomas w. Fowler,
the well-known real estate dealer, who resides
at 9O7 Fifth street northwest. Mr.. Fowler has
been making his collection for about ten years,
and has many rare and beautiful specimens in
the hot-house in the rear of his residence.
SUNDAY HERALD reporter was shown Mr.
Fowler's treasures the other day. The hot,
damp air of the conservatory was filed with
the fragrance of orchids just then in bloom.
Shelves all around were laden with specimens
Of the floral fairies to the number of five or six
hundred. Suspended from the rafters hung
dozens of the plants attached to perpendicular
blocks of wood by their bare roots. A brick
tank full of water furnished the air with the
desired humidity, and from it's depths OCCASION
ally arose monster bullfrOg to croak content
edly at the admirers of his wards. Mr.. Fowlers
collection includes number of plants for which
he has given fancy prices, and others for which
as much as twenty or twenty-five dollars have
been offered him. Quite a number of them
were in bloom.
The orchid plants themselves differ as widely
as the blossoms, but the most Of the specimens
noticed appeared to have long, thick, dark
green leaves springing directly from the roots.
Each year bulb shoots out from the roots,
bears its quota of blossoms, and then falls back
into innocuous desuetude, in which condition
f,...s .l,A Soc
that of the year after, and so for eight or ten
years, until it has gradually disntegrated and
disappeared.
In speaking of the growth and cultivation of
the orchid Mr.. Fowler said: 1.-THE orchid gener-
ally requires for its perfect development damp
atmosphere ofhigh temperature. Varieties of it,
however, will stand any temperature and any
humidity except the very cold or the very dry.
In Peru variety has been found on mountains
IA 600 feet above sea level. In the winter keep
a stove burning here and my constant endeavor
is to keep the temperature near 700 as posi-
BILE. The plants are quite susceptible to cold,
and in order to get the best results in bringing
them to blossom we have to be exceedingly
tender in our treatment of them. In planting
them in pots we merely place moss around
their roots to enable them to gather the
requisite moistness as they require no earth for
their growth. have quite number of them
growing on blocks, as you will see heren point
ing to lots of orchids clinging by the aid of
their spreading roots to pieces of shingle, bark
or trees, or anything TO which they could fasten.
''Orchids are found in all equatorial countries
Mexico, Peru, Brazil, the West Indies, Mad
agascar, the damp jungles of Nepaul, Burmah,
and the whole of the Indian Archipelago, es-
pecaly New Guinea and Java. In Java alone
over three hundred varieties of the plant have
been found. In those countries the beauties of
the orchids in the full perfection of their native
development excite the wonder and admiration
of the traveller. The Oncidiunl, or Butterfly
Orchid,' is one of the most beautiful. The
blossom is about the size of the tropical butter
fly, and has the wings and body represented in
wondrous similitude. Even the attenne are
reproduced with eXactness The blossom is at
tached to the end of long, thin tendril, and
dropping from limb above is waited to and
fro by the wind, an exact imitation of the but
terfy and its motions.
"Probably the most beautiful and impressive
OF all the orchids is that known botanically as
the PeriSteria, more commonly the flower of the
holy spirit, or dove flower. This plant is a
vigorous grower, the bulbs are oval, of pale
green, and bear from three to five large promt-
nently ribbed leaves attaining height OF four
feet MORE The flowers are somewhat
globose, about an inch and half in diameter,
thick and ivory in texture, delightful in fra
grance, and creamy white in color, freckled in
beautiful profusion with rich purple The
characteristic from which it derives its name,
however, is the most beautiful feature of the
plant. Away back In the middle of the blossom
there sits pure white representation OF dove,
with outstretched wings, head and neck bent
forward and down In reVerent attitude Even