The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-14
QUEEN OF FLOWERS
wOyDRoUs ORCHIDS GIVE PROMISE
OF sUPPLANTING THE ROSE.
Their Varied Forms, Gorgeous CoIors
and subtle Perfume Have Cnptf-
waited the Aristocrats.

New York Recorder.
Probably the orchid will be the fashion
able flower this winter. 1t has grown very
rapidly in popularity. and the effort 70
keep pace with this on the part OF the
florists has brought into the market a
larger number OF new varieties and has
also brought the price down TO a reasona-
bic figure. Dame Fashion might make a
much poorer selection, for in all the floral
kingdom there is nothing to compare with
orchids for strange, grotesque and fanciful
shapes, magnifcence in c~oloring and rare
perfume.
The beautiful and remarkable class of
plants that now commands such marked
attention was but little known to the pub
lie in general until the last few years.
They have been called the aristocrat's flow
er, because they commanded such extrava-
CANT prices that none but the wealthy
could possess and enjoy Them Yankee en-
terprise has changed all that. and. although
some rare specimens still command fabulous
sums, the majority of orchid flowers may
now be purchased for about the same
prices as good roses.
Orchids as a class, differ from other
flowers or plants. n that they derive their
earth. Some, indeed, are called terrestrial
orchids" but in reality this is a misnomer.
When potted nothing Is used but coarse peat
nbre, sphagnum moss and a few Jumps
of charcoal, and their nourishment IN
from the air and water.
The epiphytal orchids are found in their
native habitatS growing upon the branches
of trees, with their roots firmly fastened
TO the bark. A few varieties of orchids are
found in a wild state east of the Rocky
mountains, but the more magnificent speci-
mems come from the hot climateS-MeXico,
Central and South America, from the. In
dian Archipelago, Africa, and, indeed. from
every country where there is a superabun-
dance of heat and moisture.
No flower except an orchid will retain it's
cut from the plant; no lower that is so
diversified in coioring, so monstrouS in
may have sprays Of orchids more than
three feet long, bearing a solid mass of
flowers more tnan a foot in circumference,
and they will be as fragrant as roses for
days after they are cut.
In New York flower shops last winter
cypripediums, or lady slippers, sometimes
blance to a shoe or slipper, sold at Is cents
each, while roses brought a third more than
that. In a day the rose would wither. but
the cypripedium would retain it's freshness
for a week or more.
Cattleyas. the most gorgeous and strik-
ing specimens of the orchid family, could
also be had for about the same price. Cat
South America. and the best specimens
come from Brazil. For a winter bloomer
color, with dark lips and golden throat.
G.. Mosaic Is the best summer Towering.
its large. fragrant blossoms. beautifully
colored, commanding general admiration.
There are only twenty-eight men who fol-
low the profession OF orchid hunting. In
lands of the Amazon, in the dark forests
of Africa, they wander day after day, year
after year, seeking those little masterpieces
of natures handiwork, so tantalizingly Sc
creted from mans ruthless touch. The re-
suit of their efforts is surprising. Hun
dreds, yea, thousands, Of magnificent speci-
mems are shipped to the central depots in
London and New York, there to be crossed,
hybridized and redivided, making new and
distinct varieties.
For cut flowers dendrobiums are the
most desirable. Their long flower spikes OF
pink. yellow. red and. in fact, almost every
color except blue, are very snowy. They
sends us the favor1te Easter mower, coelO-
gyne c~ristata- This variety is white, with
yellow throat. Tn vandas from Burmar
are the rarest. and, naturally, the most
valuable of the air plants. The latest dis
covered bears flowers two to three inches
in diameter. The sepals and petals are OF
rosy purple, except the small side lobes
which are yellow, spotted with light brown
the florists in New York are cypripedi.
ums, yet some varieties OF this species are
exceedingly valuable. 1t is pure yellow
without spot or blemish- The most valu-
able cypripediums, Of which there are more
than 500 varieties. come from northern In
dia- The butterfly orchid, Oncidium Pap
llllO, ID q CQIlO, VI lISdh Il udluIt. al III
tip OF a long, slender stem is perched al
accurate representation of a gorgeous but
terfly. Some of the flower stems are from
three to four feet long and almost invisi
BILE. Unless seen by a close observer, TIL
impression Is given that the flower is
veritable live butterfly floating in the air
This plant is common in the West Indie,
and in Venezuela. Its beauty and pecul
iarity of form and it's bright, attractiv,
color SO delighted the late Duke of Dew
onshire that he decided to make a specia
collection OF orchids. This set the fashion
which is now SO prevalent.
The moth orchid, ph~alenopsis, from tn
Philippine islands, with It's moth an
white-colored flowers, is another specie
which leads the uninitiated to believe it Il
be a living insect.
The Odontoglossum was found by Hum
boldt in 1875, and up to 1888 there were onl,
five varieties known, and the progress. cul
tivation and knowledge Of orchids is dem
onstrated by the fact that more than on
hundred varieties are now recognized. /
is strictly American, growing only in Mexi
co, Central America, Peru and New Gran
ada. Odontoglossums are, in many re
spects, among the most desirable O
orchids, and can be successfully grown i
any cool, moist atmosphere throughout tn
entire year. The name il bears signife
tooth-tongued. in allusion to Its form and I
its having tooth-like projections at it's bass
SWORDFISH ARE FIGHTERS.