New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-04

I
Manda collection Of orchids DR.. j. M. w.
Kitchen of East Orange has increased his own
collection Of those beautiful and interesting
plants until it is said to be the largest in the
country. For several years DR.. Kitchen has de-
voted much time and labor to the cultivation
| Of orchids He has imported many of the raTest
varieties from their tropical homes, and mas
paid more attention to the less-kDown deiicate
species than to the more snowy KINDS, whch
have greater commercial value Henceiorti'
however, since by his aew purchase he mas ac-
uured q vast number of all species OF orchids,
he intends to make his collection more general;
and, in order TO cover the great expense IF buy
ing and ctring for such costly plants, he viii
run his greenhouses on commercial basis
In the collection now there are over five hum
dred varieties Of orchids. each being repres ented
SO fully that the total number Of specimens Is
between six thousand and seven thousand. Or
the terrestrial or earthgrown orchids there are
over two hundred kinds, and the remainder is
made up Of the epiphytal orchids, which live
entirely upon what nourishment they derive
from the atmosphere. This latter class includes
some Of the strangest and most beautiful forms
which this remarkable order of plants is capa-
BILE Of producing.
MANY mistakes have been made in the treat
Of his collection. 'They are plants so peculiar
in their habits and they forced to grow here
under conditions opposite to those Of their
native climate that it has required long eX-
perimcntng to discover just what suits them
best. 1t has been thoroughly proved now that
| though they require a constant supply of warm,
moist air, they must not be kept wet, and that
they must have plenty Of fresh outside air
through the greenhouse in which they live. But
while there has been improvement in the
style of treating them. precisely the proper
course has not yet been found for the term of
life Of the epiphytal orchids in particular Is
much shorter here than it should be. With the
best care that mas ever been given to them,
these plants seldom live longer than five or six
years after their importation. and when the
slowness of orchids growth is taken into
consideration this is very short period Of
mature existence.
The production Of new varieties by hybridiz-
ing is frequently successful, but it is a slow and
uncertain process. have tiny shoots now
NOT more than two inches high and they have
been growing between two and three years. 1t
Will De at least five six years from the time Of
their termination before they will bloom. and
until that time it is impossible to tell whether or
not the work has been of the least use Nothing
, the contrary, there is always the chance Of pro-
. ducing totally different variety from any be-
fore known. The value of the new hybrids de-
ponds entirely upon the amount or their vara-
ton from the parent types
Winter is the blooming season for orchids, and,
consequence, scarcely any Of DR.. Kitchens
plants now in flower. Among his great as
sortment Of the popular Cattleyas is enc, how
ever, the Gaske!ana, which shakes out its beau
tiful purplish-pink blossoms in defiance Of the
season A group of Cattleya trane will bloom
in 4 few months They fresh importation,
and as the color range Of this species is wide
DE- Kitchen is waiting rather anXiously TO see
what he has ACQUIRED. If there should be a pure
white specimen among them ii would be worth,
he SAYS 81 O00. In the collection some
strong plants OF the exquisite L9lia purpurata,
Which Dr. Kitchen calls the queen of all or
chids" It's flowers are large and white, with
vivid crimson splash in the centre.
| The dcndrobums are another variety to which
Dr. Kitchen is going to pay especial attention.
He has some valuable specimens from Formosa
and the islands near Australia a plant OF the
kind called ThyrsihOrum is now in bloom ana Its
clusters of small white b.osscn ms, with deliOdtc.y
fringcd deep yellow centres, make beautiful
sight The dendrcbiums require high tenn
p.rature-in tie neighbcrhood Of 100 degrees
and j very moist atmosphere. DR. kltcheh
n.v greenhouses are fitted up in The most AK
proyed modern style, with hot water h athS APP
! parattls ard a perfect system OF Nenttiatl'h' SO
that the plants have every opportunity 70 thrive.
In speaking Of the methods pursued ny coI-
! lecto1s i'm bringing orchids 10 TINS country III.
Kitchen said:
~ has becu the custom heretofore to take the