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ORCHIDS. THERE is no room to deal with this great subject
historically, scientifically, or even practically, in the space of
a chapter. I am an enthusiast, and I hold some strong views, but
this is not the place to urge them. It is my purpose to ramble on,
following thoughts as they arise, yet with a definite aim. The
skilled reader will find nothing to criticize, I hope, and the
indifferent, something to amuse. Those amiable theorists who
believe that the resources of Nature, if they be rightly searched,
are able to supply every wholesome want the fancy of man conceives,
have a striking instance in the case of orchids. At the beginning
of this century, the science of floriculture, so far as it went,
was at least as advanced as now. Under many disadvantages which we
escape?the hot-air flue especially, and imperfect means of
ventilation?our forefathers grew the plants known to them quite as
well as we do. Many tricks have been discovered since, but for
lasting success assuredly our systems are no improvement. Men
interested in suchmatters began to long for fresh fields, and they
knew where to look. Linnaeus had told them something of exotic
orchids in 1763, though his knowledge was gained through dried
specimens and drawings. One bulb, indeed?we spare the name?showed
life on arrival, had been planted, and had flowered thirty years
before, as Mr. Castle shows. Thus horticulturists became aware,
just when the information was most welcome, that a large family of
plants unknown awaited their attention; plants quite new, of
strangest form, of mysterious habits, and beauty incomparable.
Their notions were vague as yet, but the fascination of the subject
grew from year to year. Whilst several hundred species were
described in books, the number in cultivation, including all those
ga...
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