The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-13

pear" said the gardener as he watered
the beautiful plant. That afternoon
two men came into the dollhouse and
spent an unusually long time among
the flowers. One Of the assistant
gardeners was with them a short time
and he says the men talked, like ex-
perts. Saturday night the head gar
dener came into the house and told Mrs.
Wilson that something was the matter
with the plant she had seen. It was
dropping and sickly. Everything was
done to save il, but on Sunday it shriv-
eled up and died. Three thousand doll
lars was conservative price anNorchid
collector would have put upon the
plant.
The leaves of the dead plant were
sent to Thomas NJ. Newbold, a chemist.
who found that on the base of the
leaves there was a strong preparation
Of some alkali, probably chlorate of
potash. Mrs. Wilson is sure that this
is the work of some Jealous collector or
agent of a collector from another city.
They were not after that Laelia, am
sure" she said, but another of almost
the same appearance, of which I have
the only specimen in existence and
hibited at horticultural hall, and the
plant acquired considerable notoriety at
that time. Some collector. piqued at
not being able to acquire a specimen,
has tried to ruin 1t. 1t was spite work
caused by jealousy, I am sure. Many
orchid collectors have had the same ex-
perience."
She has had new locks put on ally the
conservatory doors since. No visitor is
let out of sight Of the gardeners, and
the names of those who come to see the
collection are carefully taken, with the
time of their visit.
For the past ten years this gorgeous
orchid flower has been Mrs. Wilson's
hobby. Always an admirer of orchids,
about 1894 she decided to go into orchids
thoroughly. and began a study of this
millionaire's emblem, sending all over
the world for specimens of it's myriad
varieties. Europe, Asia, North and
South America and the isles Of the sea
were explored, each for its partic-
ular production. At important orchid
centers agencies for Mrs. Wilson were
established which from time to time
have furnished her with rare and val
liable Plants, together with information
regarding their cultivation.
In this way more than 10000 orchids
have been brought together at the Will
son mansion in Philadelphia.
In it's line this assemblage is one Of
the most famous and most extensive in
existence. A few years ago the collec-
ton, as il then stood, was greatly i'm
proved by the addition of that belong
ing to the Erastus Corning estate OF
Albany, which 1t had taken 40 years to
gather.
That a mere plant with a not par
ticulafly attractive blossom should
command thousands Of dollars in open
market seems incredible, but 1t Is
nevertheless true. Some of the rarest
varieties are the least beautiful. and
by the eye alone no one can estimate
the value of a collection. All Of the
great florist firms have professional
orchid collectors. They brave the fast
nesses of the forests of the Amazon and
Orinoco rivers and are exposed to the
deadly fevers and miasmas of swamps
where the anacondas and boa constric-
tors are the least of the evils to be en-
countered.
The most inaccessible approaches to
the Himalayas and Andes are threaded
in every direction by these hardy and
fearless caterers to a fad, and the is
lands Of Java and Borneo. with all their
difficulties, have been searched from
shore to shore in the Unsuitable hunt.
The flowers must be had at any price.
and have often been paid for at the
sacrifice of human life.
Mrs. wilson's collection is assembled
in seven great glass houses that were
erected in the rear of the Wilson man.