The times., 1899-03-19
RAREST gems OF
EXOTIC BOWERS
Orchid AdOrnments of a Bank
ers' Conservatory.
Notable Collections of Fascinating
and Costly Flowers.
Plants WOrshiped by Learned BOT
anists-COstIy OdOntOgIOssums
and superb Cypripediums.
prom the New York Mail and Express)

Few that pause to admire some specially
rare and fine orchid exhibited from time TO
time in the windows of the p-town florists
know that many of the most beautiful of
these exotics are natives of our newest
possessions, the Philippine Islands.
Still fewer know that very near New
York there exists very complete collec
ton of orchids, many of the plants of
which were brought from the Philippines
at great trouble, but which are grown sue
cessfully in hothouses. The owner of the
collection is Mr.. Gustav Amsinck, head Of
the banking firm of G. Amsinck & Co., of
New York and Hamburg
OF all flower fads the orchid hobby is by
far the most fascinating and costly. Among
the most successful and discriminating
amateur growers OF these mysterious plants
is Mr.. Amsinck, whose orchid houses at
Summit are the pride of local orchidists.
Being wealthy, he Is able to give free
rein to his fad, until his conservatories
have become like huge jewel boxes contain
ing many OF the rarest floral gems Of the
world.
Mr.. Hamman, the head gardener, who is
himself an enthusiast in orchids and their
culture, takes personal charge of the pha-
laenopsis house He at one time had
charge of the collection of orchids at the
White House, and is known as one of the
cleyerest and most successful orchid grow
ers in this country, for 1t is generally con-
ceded that If an orchidst can successfully
cultivate the phalaenopsis species he can
grow any other variety of orchids.
These, he says ARE the choicest pha-
Iaenopsis in cultivation anywhere in the
world. There are upward of twenty varie-
ties in this collection. Some botanists have
called them the Philippine butterfly Or
chids.' Indeed, the trembling graceful
branchlets, crowded with gay clusters OF
1ridescent flowers, seem more like little
groups of iuttering wings than growing
plants as they hang in quivering beauty
from their epiphytal position, with their
feshy roots trailing beneath them, seeking
for moisture below.
The oblong leaves, from three to FIVE in
number, varying in color from an apple or
Nile green to the deepest olive are some
times artistically mottled with white and
yellow. In texture they are thick and
leathery; the flower scape Issues from the
base or main stem of the plant between
the gorgeous leaves, and while the leaves
suspend downward the flower spike shoots
upward to a height of from two TO three
feet, then branches out with laterals upon
which are borne the individual flowers. "A
fine specimen of phalaenopsis will some
times bear as many as 40 or so blossoms
upon single plant
The perfume of these orchids is similar
to that of the vanilla orchid-warm and
pungent, but not overpowering as the odor
of lilies or tuberoses. The flowers retain
their freshness for from six to eight
weeks, and preserve their waxy brilliancy
for nearly as long a period. The flower
ing period of such an extensive collection
is naturally a long one. and covers a
tra f.f . he
with the holidays; or from Christmas to
Easter.
Some Of the choicest plants cost from
s400 TO $500 each, and tiny specimen.
small enough to slip into ones vest
pocket, was worth 800.
Orchids are collected, not by natives but
by educated and enthusiastic botanists and
practical horticulturists, who frequently
risk their lives in the endeavor to secure
specimens of exceptional rarity and beau
ty. One thing which makes these plants SO
rare and expensive is because of the diff
Guilty experienced in bringing them from
their native habitats to this as well as to
European countries, where they are 10 be
cultivated in conservatories. Out of sew
eral hundred plants gathered the collector
is fortunate who preserves two or three
dozen vigorous specimens when he returns
with them or sends them home upon their
long journey.
Then. too, the propagation of nearly all
orchids is very slow and uncertain. The
only practical method of propagation is
through seedlings. If a flower is properly
fertilized with a view TO having ii bear
seed, it will take two years for the seed
to properly ripen, another year or two is
required for 1t to germinate, and If every
thing goes well. in six or seven years
after the plant has been prepared to bear
seed, young plants sufficiently aged enough
to show at least their color may be pro-
duced. but the process more often requires
from ten to twelve years.
In Mr.. Amsinck's collections are also n
few of the less rare classes, as in the cat
tleya section. In this class there are many
varieties bearing beautiful flowers from a
most snowy mauve and richest purple.
With the great number of varieties bloom
ing, each variety at a different season, the
period of bloom of this section covers
nearly the entire year-that is. when one
variety is done blooming, another begins
Like a true connoisseur, however Mr.. AM
sinck does not care for the ordinary varie-
ties of these classes and only cultivates
the very choicest and rarest plants. There
is also very fine collection of the species
known as denrobiums OF these, too, he
has some of the rarest in cultivation.
Then there are some laclias oncidiums
epididrums, cypripediums, coelogynes, and
many other varieties and classes of orchids
in this superb collection
There is also the beginning of a collec-
tion of the rare and costly odontoglos-
sums. These last named belong to the
"coolhouse'' section, and come from an
entirely different part of the world, but
are equally rare and choice as are the
phalaenopsis Zone comes from the East
ern, the other from the Western Hem-
sphere), coming as they do from the noun
tains of New Grenada in the United States
of Colombia S. A, where they grow at
an altitude of from 10000 to 1900 feet
above the level Of the sea, and are capable
of standing a slight frost at times, while
the other varieties can only be grown
artificially in high temperature like tha,
of the tropics.
Besides the orchids cultivated at this
place there are houses of roses, carnations,
begOnIas. cyclamen, and houses for mis-
cellaneous plants for the decoration Of the
grounds in summer, but the orchids are
the great feature. There is a spacious
conservatory adjoining Mr. Amsinck's
house which opens directly into the dining
room. This is always resplendent with
palms, choice ferns, and many varieties of
orchids in bloom and is really a dream in
itself. Everything that Is choice and rare
in the greenhouse is brought here and left
for a time TO be succeeded by fresh treas
ures as they come into bloom.
Do. NJ