The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-17
ROMANTIC ORCHID.
Its Strange Beauty--The PeriIs
That Surround 1t.
Varieties That Are Most Useful for
General MISUNDERSTANDING for
a Novelty in the Jungles of India.

gin with, the orchid has weird beauty
all its own. Its strange shape, its fantas-
tic method of growth, clinging TO the
rock on lofty mountain sides, and to the
branches of trees in tropical countries;
the fact that it is gathered in these coun-
tries, often at great risk of life dives hav-
ing actually been lost in establishing
some varieties) - these circumstances
serve to enhance the interest that or
chids would awaken of themselves even if
they were difficult to procure. Then,
too, orchids are not difficult TO cultivate,
a cool house answering the requirements
of temperature, as they mostly come
from the mountain lands of the tropics;
and watering and cleaning being all they
need in the way of care. Moreover, as
above stated, it is an easy matter to have
bloom all the year round with orchids.
This is due to the great mum Der OF varle-
ties and the long Towering period of
some varieties, the flowers on Cattleya
1rianae and Cypripedium Insigne, for
instance, lasting through the autumn and
winter, so that with only these two varie-
ties bloom could be maintained through
out these seasons.
And such bloom! No one who has
ever seen a group of Towering Cattleyas
can ever forget them. They are in APP
pearanee the most superb OF all orchids.
The Hover is not infrequently half a foot
In diameter. Petals and sepals hang with
languid grace that is simply enhancing.
The color i'll single flower will shade off
from soft pink to a delicate creamy
hesh-tint like the lining OF a sea-shell,
while in the lip there is a spot of gorge
Gus royal purple. They are the planets
among the consultations of orchids, fairly
glowing out from the deep shadows of
their fronds, as if some of the hues of the
sunset had taken shape and tioated down
TO earth. Notably beautiful mong the
Cattleyas are the tleecy white Alblnos
(the collector prides himself on these, as
they are very rare, and are therefore
moro highly valued, point holding good
with all groups OF orchards, and the Cat
tleya SpecIoSSlsslm1, the purple IN whose
lip is either notified or streaked with
white and framed with pure rich yell
low.
The Cypripedium Insigne, which also
blooms during autumn and winter, is d
yellow flower with large brown spots, a
quiet contrast to the elegance OF the Cat
tleyas. Similar contrasts can be effected
during any season OF the year. 1t is an
easy matter to vary plants of gorgeous
bloom with those which with their sub
dued colors seem to love dusk and shad-
ow. No other genus of flower can APP
proach orchids in their combination of
the richest with the most delicate hues.
The Cypripediums are perhaps the
most useful of all orchids for general cul-
tivation. They are represented by some
fifty species and some 500 hybrids, 1t be-
ing the easiest species to hybridIZe. The
first hybrid orchid raised was Cypripe-
dunn Harrisianum, and ii is SIill consid
cred one of the best, as it flowers two or
three times a year and is of easy culture.
AS a rule hybrids are of darker color
than the parent plants and stronger. But
there are exceptions. Cypripedium Mar
Shallianum, for instance, originated years
ago in England, yet to-day only one
specimen OF it is believed to exist in this
country, and. although it is small plant,
Is valued at 500. The value of the Abb
nos among orchids has been referred to.
a Cattleya of ten or twelve bulbs is
worth 81; an Albino of the same size,
500.
Orchids are extremely decorative in a
conservatory or window. The decora-
tive qualities of the Cattleyas have al
ready been mentioned. Nothing could
be more graceful than sprays of Odonto-
glossum with their exquisite small flow
erS, usually snowy white, with dots,
lobes and other shapes in haze; hanging
dendrobiums and vandas give an airy
touch TO the arrangement, as do also the
Cypripediums, whose lower sepaIs often
taper away TO spirating tendrils. Alto
gether, an orchid-house is constant
proper care the plants quickly increase
in value. In ten years a plant which
originally cost 81 will i'll some instances
have put forth so many shoots that its
value viii have riser to $50.
The hardships endured by the 'collect-
ors'' whom orchid-growers have sent
into the jungles OF the tropics form a
hitherto unwritten chapter in the story
OF Horticulture and give touch of ro-
nance to these strange plants-the sphinx
among flowers. AS good example
may cite the introduction OF Cypripedium
Spicerianum. About 1878 an Indian tea
planter named Spicer sent to brother in
England an orchid which he believed
TO be the common variety of Cypripedium
Insigne.
AS soon as it bloomed, however, it was
found to be new variety and was named
Spicerianum. 1t was a beautiful flower
and combining the desirable qualities of
novelty and beauty, it brought very
high price. No other consignment of
this orchid reached England during the
two following years, and 1t seemed as if
the specimen received by Spicer was to
remain the only one known to the civil
lied world, although somewhere in the
Indian jungles it might be blooming in
profusion. 1t was then that Ignatius
Fosterman, an orchid collector for an
English house, determined to organize
an expedition to search for the lost
found that there were two tea planters
named Spicer in India, one on the little
travelled route TO Manipur, the other in a
more frequented district.
The collector concluded that the more
inaccessible territory would be the like
lier habitat of the "Iost orchid" and
started up the Ganges for Manipur
Meeting one of Spicer's tea caravans, he
learned by cautious inquiry-for an
orchid hunter is obliged to he as circum-
spect as a diplomat. so keen is the COM
petiuon-that a Scotchman in Spicer's
employ often hunted along the Brahma-
putra River, and had on several occa-
game. Fosterman had been unable to
obtain permission to enter Manipur but
by ascending the Brahmaputra be could
avoid detection, as the main road did not
follow the river, and its banks were UNI
inhabited, so when about 400 miles from
the coast he started up the river with
three boats and twenty natives, and so
sneaked into Manipur.
He proceeded slowly up the river, ex-
ploring its banks, and also ascending its
tributaries. 70 search for the 'lost
orchid in the jungle was much like look
ing for the proverbial needle in hay-
stack, but the collector pushed on I'M
daunted. What added to the WEAKNESS OF
the search was The constant uneasiness of
the natives, who were in dread of discov-
cry, and knowing the Maharajah's I'M
friendliness toward travellers, looked on
discovery as equivalent to death. Some
had absolutely refused to proceed up the
river into Manipur, and had been lett be-
hind, and it required braclng up in the
shape of "backsheeshn to keep the little
hand of followers intact. 1t was usual
with the collector to divide up the expe-
dition into two parties for the days
work, leading one party himself and in
na fn haa