Part 4

But the hybridisers have an opening here not less profitable than interesting. For the natural supply is exhausted--if any stickler for accuracy object that some still arrive every year, they may overhaul their Boswell and make a note. Sir, said his hero, if I declare that there is no fruit in an orchard, I am not to be charged with speaking falsely because a man, examining every tree, finds two apples and three pears--I have not the book at hand to quote the very words. When L. elegans was discovered, in 1847, it must have been plentiful in its native home beyond all other species on record. The first collectors so described it. But that home was a very small island, where it clung to the rocks. Every plant within reach has long since been cleared away; those remaining dwell in perilous places on the cliffs. To gather them a man must be let down from above, or he must risk his life in climbing from below. But under these conditions the process of extermination still proceeds, and in a time to be counted by months it will be complete.

In describing a few of the most precious varieties at Woodlands, I may group them in a manner to display by contrast the striking diversities which an orchid may assume while retaining the essential points that distinguish it from others. One form, however, I must mention here, for it is too common to be classed among peculiarities, yet to my mind its colouring is the softest and most dainty of all. Petal and sepal are 'stone-colour,' warmed, one cannot say even tinged, with crimson. Nature has no hue more delicate or sweeter.

Adonis.--Bright rosy petals--sepals paler--lip and edges of lobes carmine.

F. Sander.--The latest pseudo-bulb measures 2 feet 3 inches--topping the best growth of its native forest by six inches; from base to top of the spike, 4 feet less 1 inch, and as thick as a walking-cane. This grand plant has been in cultivation for three years. The sepals and petals are those of L. e. Turneri; the lip resembles a fine L. purpurata.

The plant next to this, unnamed, has pseudo-bulbs almost as long, but scarcely thicker than straws.

Empress.--A very dark form of Turneri.

Medusa.--Tall, slender pseudo-bulbs--very dark.

Neptune, on the contrary, has pseudo-bulbs short and fat, whilst the colouring is pale.

H. E. Moojen.--Doubtless a natural hybrid with L. purpurata, which takes equally after both parents.

Godseffiana.--Nearly white; the broad lip carmine--lobes of the same hue, widely expanded.

Mrs. F. Sander.--A round flower, very dark rose; sepals and petals dotted all over, as in Cattleya Leopoldii.

Red King.--Yellowish throat. Lip good colour and round, but narrow, without the prolongation of some or the lateral extension of others. Curiously like the shape of L. Perrinii.

Stella.--Dusky rose and similarly spotted, but different in shape--sepals and petals much thinner.

Boadicea.--Sepals and petals deep rose. Long shovel lip crimson-lake.

H. G. Gifkins.--The sepals are palest green, with a rosy tinge; petals pale mauve. The lip, maroon-crimson, spreads out broadly from a neck almost half an inch long, and its deep colour stretches right up the throat.

Mrs. R. H. Measures.--Pure white, even the lip, except a touch of purple-crimson in the centre and slender crimson veins.

L.-C. Harold Measures.--A fine hybrid of L.e. Blenheimensis and Catt. superba splendens, which takes mostly after the former in colouring, the latter in shape. It is a round flower, with a crimson lip immensely broad; two small yellow spots are half concealed beneath the tube. Sepals greenish tawny, petals dull pink with crimson lines.

Sade Lloyd.--A very pretty form. Sepals and petals rosy, tinted with fawn colour. The crimson lip is edged with a delicate white line, as are the lobes, which fold completely over the tube.

Doctor Ryan is distinguished by a very long protruding lip.

Ophelia.--As big and as round as Catt. Mossiae. Tube very thick and wide.

Macfarlanei.--We have two so named. In this grand example the pseudo-bulbs are more than 2 feet high, proportionately thick. Eight or nine flowers on the spike. Sepals and petals glaucous green. Long lip of brightest crimson.

Leucotata.--Sepals and petals white with rosy tips--lip white, saving rosy lines and a rosy stain.

Nyleptha.--Sepals and petals fawn colour, edged with rose. Very wide lip of deepest crimson.

Haematochila.--Sepals stone-colour flushed with pink, petals dusky pink. Lip carmine-purple, rather narrow, shaped like a highly ornamental spade.

Paraleuka.--All snowy white save the carmine lip, the form of which is curiously neat and trim.

Tenebrosa.--In this specially dark variety the tube is long, closely folded, rose-white, with lines of crimson proceeding from the back. As they meet at the lower edge they form a border as deep in hue as the lip. But our darkest elegans, eighteen years in the collection, has not bloomed for six seasons past.

Schilleriana splendens.--Sepals and petals white, with a faintest rosy tinge and a yellow stain on the midrib. Lip long, straight, forked at the tip, liveliest crimson-purple.

Stelzneriana.--Rosy-white. The crimson of the lip does not spread all over but lies in a triangular blotch.