The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-11-07


eral large and very valuable collections
of orchids in Honolulu, owned and tend
ed personally by men and women with
whom thew have become h0bby-for
orchids are the queen Of all hobbies
Beautiful plants these are, gathered
from all parts Of the world, the rarest
probably those which originally came
from Central and South America.
Gatherers of these rare plants in their
native iungles continually risk their
lives to enter the dense thickets Of
Brazil and to wander along the banks
of the Amazon in search of rare speci-
mems, which are disposed Of to private
collectors either in Europe or the Uni
ted States or sold to commercial buyers
in both of these countries.
The finding Of the orchid IS only a
small beginning. for a long series of
possible mishaps must be looked out
for and avoided before it reaches the
hands of the man with the hobby. Ii
the natives, whom the collectors employ
to gather them from the high trees and
other difficult places where they grow
wild, do not injure them in removing
them from their native resorts, or in
packing them, to be transported on the
backs of mules, to the nearest seaport,
they viii get safely started off on a
sea voyage For this voyage they must
not be placed on any old part of the
vessel. They must be given first
class passage and a special place where
they viii not get too much dry heat
or any salt water on them, else the
life will be all shriveled out and the
coDsignee receive only dead and with
cred sticks. If the plants are allowed
to make too much gr0weh on the jour
ney they generally rot off and this too
has to be guarded against.
Then the plants arrive and are care
fully unpaeked, the proud possessor
starts in on course of treatment that
to the layman would be as bad as being
put in charge of an incubator bany.
The treatment required depends largely
upon what part of the world the plants
come from. but they all have their own
little pecularities and different varie-
ties requiring different degrees of heat
and moisture. Then again, they insist
upon having rest when they feel like
it and require a special treatment while
taking it. If the house given them
does not Just exactly please their fancy
they win become stubborn and will abb
solutelv refuse to blossom. Sometimes
they even insist upon the position they
are to occupy in the house and when
moved until satisfied they will go ahead
and thrive, providing they are left in
that one place until they blossom-after
that they may be moved with safety.
Like an important section of humanity,
they are uncertain, coy and hard to
please But-the collectors say-they
are worth all the trouble.
The true lover of orchids is amply
repaid for all his pains when some of
the various beautiful blossoms make
their appearance. Most of the unini-
tiated have a mistaken idea of the
life of an orchid blossom, which, while
fragile in appearance and delicate in
eoloring. possess the most wonderful en-
durance. In a hot house, some species
will remain perfect for as long as six
or seven weeks and even as cut flowers,
if given little care. they will last for
ten days or two weeks.
The first orchids were brought to
Honolulu about 1856 by Capt. John
Kidweli. who imported number of
varieties for commercial purposes.
Later, the rarest of these were purchas-
ed by Mrs. S. c. Allen, the late John
Robinson, w. NJ. Giffard, E. w. Jordan
and the late Albert Jaeger, all of whom
started collections and later imported
many rare specimens on their own ac-
count.
The three largest collections at pres
ent in Honolulu are owned by S. NJ. Da-
mon, Z. d. Tenney and A. Baird. This
trio are the proud possessors of hun
dreds of rare plants, worth thousands
of dollars w. NJ. Giffard has turned
his later attention to other rare plants
but still retains a small but valuable
collection of orchids. Mrs. Faxon Bishop
Mrs. c. l.. Wight, Mrs. J. NJ. Dowsett
and Mrs. LAM are among the women
devotees of the fascinating pastime OF
orchid cultivation.
:. NJ. Damon 5 three orchid houses al
MOanalua contain a large and valuable
collection of orchids among which are
forty-one hybrids imported from Eng
land three years ago During the past
two years each one of these has bios
somed and turned out to be a perfect
specimen of its kind. The five most
beautiful of these were obtained by
crossing Laeia Crispa and Cattleya
Gigas, Laelia Purpurata and Cattleya
Mosaic Laelia Purpurata and Cattleyf
Labiata, Lailia Tenelrosa and Brassa
VIOLA Dighyana, Cattleya Bowsingians
and Cattleya Hardyana, for under name:
like these must the delicate blossom.
stagger.
Since beginning orchid cultivation
ten years ago Mr.. Damon has done {
lot Ct personal experimenting and a
present has n score or more of five-vear
old bybrids which he expects will prob
ably blossom within the next wear o.
at the latest in the next two years
when ne will he able to tell how grea
has been his success For it is no
until the blossom makes its appearance,
that it is possible to judge of the beaut,
or rarity of hybrid. Six which Nj
Damon is watching with great expectan
cv were obtained by crossing the Bras
savo'a Digbvana aud Cattleya Aurea
Laela Purpurata and Cattleya Mossia,
Taela Purpurata and Cattleya olga,
-