The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-29
WHITE HOUSE ORCHIDS.
The New Conservatory to Be Veri-
table Wonderland.

Washington. Dec. 29.-Replacing all the
greenhouses recently swept away, the
White House is to have one new conserv-
atory, circular in shape, which will be the
most remarkable room of its kind in the
world. its essential and peculiar feature
being collection OF orchids. There will
be 1900 of these precious exotics, brought
from the most remote parts of the earth
to adorn Mrs. Roosevelt's floral boudoir.
The ground at the back of the White
House slopes off in 9 gentle incline south
ward, so that, when viewed from the
rear and in it's most beautiful aspect, the
mansion seems to be somewhat elevated.
On this incline is to be built the circular
conservatory, which will be about 70
feet in diameter and composed almost en-
tirely of glass, though with a low wall
of masonry supporting the upper struc-
ture.
1t will be about 25 feet In height and
will have a peaked roof, the frame be-
ing of iron. Both iron and masonry will
be painted white, to match the White
House and the new buildings.
There will be other plants in this re-
markable greenhouse. chiefly palms, but
the most important feature will be the
orchids some of them in baskets hang
ing from the roof, while others will be
attached to pieces of bark similarly sus-
pended and others yet will be in pots.
Though many orchids are epiphytes,
merely attaching themselves to trees
air, not a few species grow in earth,
like ordinary Towering plants.
The White House collection of orchids
has long been famous, being considered
one of the finest in existence and i'm
portant additionss have recently been
made to 1t. One of the varieties newly
secured is from Central America, and
goes by the long name of odontoglossum
grande. but to ordinary folks it is
known as the baby. because a perfect
representation of a human infant in
miniature lies beneath a little canopy
in the middle of each flower.
Orchids exhibit many such weird coun-
terfeits of other forms of nature. and
among the varieties represented in the cir
cular conservatory will be the bee orchid
which a blossom resembling the money bee
another which looks like an exaggerated
fly, ard yet another which bears the as
pect of a lizard Some of them will have
flowers that seem TO initiate splendid but
terfiies, but even more rernar kable are
species whose blooms have the shape Of
pended by their heads. of ducks hanging
by their beaks downward and of gruesonae
spiders.
1t win be quite floral wonderland, this
greenhouse of Mrs. Rcosevelt's. and the
plants it contains viii represent I'M
mense amount of human peril and suffer-
ing undergone. For the most precious
varieties of orchids are obtained from
trackIess tropical forests and fever haunt
ed jungies, threatening death to the ex-
plorer by tooth of wild beast and venom
of snake
IN Sucn wiz REGION Oh Inc DahNS u
q tributary of the Amazon river was lis
covered recently species that bore z
flower in the likeness of an old mans
head with a tongue three feet more
in length which extended itself downward
to the water when the plant was thirsty
and wanted a drink. Specimens were Sc
cured and it may be that one of them will
find its way into the White House collec-
ton
Orchids have to be kept very moist,
and for this purpose the White House
gardener obtains at intervals Quantities
of swamp mozs. which is gathered along
the eastern branch of the Potomac Some
of the varieties grow in earth and require
only a top dressing of moss; but others.
which derive their Sustenance entirely
from the atmosphere are hung in open
baskets of cedar sticks while others, which
under natural conditions cling to the bark
Of trees are fastened with copper wires
to pieces of cork bark. the roots enveloped