Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-09
Orchids and Their Wonders

WASHINGTON, February S.-Irob-
ably there is no flower in the whole
plant world which is admired more ana
understood less to-day than the orchid
the development and cultivation OF
which arc discussed by j. Constantine
IN smithsonian report. Even the
simpler orchids are very curious plants
OF tho so-callcd endogcnous type be-
longing TO tho same group AS the lilies,
pil!us and grasses, but differing from
them greatly in having SNOWY and Of
ten highly colorc1 flowers OF remark
ably diverse forms. Upon entering a
house nlled with orchids one Is lit
orally amazed by the bizarre display:
the hsillance OF color, and the peculiar
forms Of leaves. petals and roots
The number of known species is
greater imam that of any OF the related
families. even not excepting The
grasses, totaling 5000 species. included
III 400 genera. This great number Is.
no doubt, due very largely to the dill
gent search which has been made for
these plants in all countries, for pur-
poses OF cultivation, on account of their
beauty ana very grca; popularity. They
nave otherwise very little economic
value, excepting few members; such
as the vanilla plant. from which the
well-known extract is prepared.
Some OF the orchids are terrestrial;
that is, they grow with their roots in
the ground. The great majority, how
ever. including most tropical species,
are cpiphytes--"ar plants"-which
grow on trees and shrubs, but receive
II" hourishment form them. This pc
culiarity was chiefly responsible for
the dii!iculty which was experienced i'm
successfully growing many spcci.s
upon their Introduction into Euroue
from Asia and Malaysia in tho cici,
tccith century. The proper mode of
al NN.ls
Nc' however, as soon rs the necessity
was realized of reproducing ariificiollv
Inc conditions under which the plaut
grew in nature. For most cpiphytes
mo scheme was devised of fastening
the roots TO piece Of wood together
WIN httle moss or absorb bent peaty
substance, by means of coDper wire
rants thus prepared were hung in vnrv
warm greenhouses and kept constantly
moist by frequent drenching. II wos
supposed that tropical plants required
an" az, 'i; !, not humid atmosphere,
species OF tropical regions could no.
bs treated essentially like tropical
plants That are accustomed to elevated
temperatures.
There are, in fact. many orchids, and
some OF these very beautiful, which
grow In the ncighborhood OF snow.
me error of associatiDg nlauts from
widely different SURROUNDINGS was
a.
nnhlly recognized, ana eventually more
rational methods OF cultivation davol
oped' leading to the usual separation
or orchids In three kinds OF green
houses, according to tcmperoiurcs
maintained in thcm-hothouses. tenn
perate houses and cold houses MANY
or the finest orchids arc found in tho
last 80
The write" also discusses at some
ich@th inc wonderful creations in the
shape OF artiGcially produced hvbrids.
In which The new plant not infreouentIy
dlHers greatly from both parents Some
OF thcse are extremely beautiful, as
Wen rs peculiar, and the difficulty OF
their production Is such that tbcv
command extraordinary prices, as high
as $1,000 having been paid in a single
instance. Once created. these hybrids
, ,iiaiy DO propagated indefinitely by d.
Eidlng the rootstock as 1t grows. per-
mnnentiy enriching the collections OF