New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-11

il ono which il would be both possible and dcsir-
able TO cultivate. IL had never occurred to me.
for example. that il would he worth while TO look
for wild flowers on Fifth-av". until certain
morning when a koen-eyed botanical companion
stopped and pluckcd from an earth filled chink
in ii- pavement little blossom which had found
it, way hthet from some country lane. Since
then have tried 10 keep my wits about me even
on that highway OF the Philistincs.
W. are prone most OF Ill.,, TO be- Inaccurate "a
well a. unobscrvant: and know Of no better an
tido'e 10 inaccuracy than faithful study OF
plants II il sometimes difficult for the Hover
lover 10 control his impatieDce when h" hears his
favorite rrcklessly m,called; and IN this improv-
ing eXerci-. he has ample opportunity TO become
proficient, for many peopc cling with peculiar
tcnacity and nnrcusonablencss To their first erro
neous impression OF flowers name. They consider
anything vague and poetic fair game for their
ready imaginatins. glibly lacking the name of one
flower 10 another with incOnsequential ightheart-
cincss Occasionally they have really been mis-
led by some fIniarity of sound. Such was the
case Of an acquaintance of mine who persisted in
informing the various companions of his ramblcs
that the little pink shrub which will soon
blossom on our wooded hillsies the sheep
sorrel and refused TO hr persuaded that the cor
the words incorrectly: hut although this cxplana
ton was suggested supplemented by The arguments
that the laurcl-likc look of the flowers at once
BETRAYED their lineage. and that the sheep -sorre
was the very plant with halbcrd-shapcl leaves and
tiny clustered flowers which oven now ar" tpgrlng
with rcd the rolling grassy uplands, h" would only
reply with dignifcd decision that his conviction
was based on Trustworthy authority. So. perhaps
i'm Al least one circle shccpaure is shecpsOrrc To
this day.
But the mninitiatcd probably allow their
ina ginatiOus 70 run more rife with the orchids
than with any other flowers. They are usually
quite positive as to the general correctness Of
their concr option Of an orchid. and unless you
are prepared 10 DO made the object Of very
genuine aversion Won will beware of trying To
convince them of the error Of their WAYS In
response to any sdch attempt they will dchantly
challenge Won: We'll then. what is an orchid ,"
and woe betde you if yon cannot couch your
reply in half dozen words of picturesque and
unmistal,ablr description. The term orchid is
dear to their hearts, whenever they discover
u rare and striking flower they like to grace j.
with the title and are sure to bear YOU II grudgc
for dEpriving them Of thc plcasurablc power of
ctnferring this mark Of floral knighthood at
will Little more than a wr"li or two ago II
friend Of mine happened for the first time upon
tho lovely purple pink fringc1 polygala. Her de-
liQht in its butterfly beauty was unhounlcd; hav-
ing learned its name and studied its odd form
she turned appe1ngly to mo: "Conld you ever
call il an orchid ," she asl;cd aud !
pleasantly conscious of INV apparent chnrlishncSs
in refusing TO cnnoblc, even temporarily, 50 on
quisite a creation.
To the botanist the chief charm Of the or
chl lies in its marvellous adaptation 10
fertilization by insects. Even the school
hoy is taught nowadays that III" Object Of vivid
colorinc and striking form IN Hover is MT
mans delight bat the production of seed IN
other words the cOntlnlIanc" of the species IL
learns that by these means insects ar attracted
to tie nectar-y yielding blossoms, and that Will"
rlfiing them Of their treasure, they inadvertently
brush upon their bodies, from III" little dh,t-
bags known H. anthcrs some life giving pollen
which later they are sure tn dcEOsit. again I'M
consciously upon the moist, rougcned disk
stigma Of tLe next flower thcy visit. Here. tn"
botany teaches tho tiny grains ,init tube, which
penetrate ~ the ovulcs in the ovary below am
quicken them into llf"
Now il il believed that orchids are peculiarly
untitled to fertize thclnsevcs-that is. il III"
pollen from the dust bags, or anthcrs. of any
given flower of this family should contrivc 10
reach the moist disk or stigma OF that same
flower. the chances are that either the ttl"
grains would fail 70 act at all upon the Ovules, or
that the resultant seeds would lack the vigor
40 necessary TO their survival Of the fierce com
bat in which they are destined to engage. So