Show ORCHIDS CURIOUS PLANTS by E VAN benthuysen orchids are curious plants even the simplest orchids of the endogenous type which belong to the same group as lilies palms and grasses but differ ing in their showy highly colored flowers of diverse shapes possibly there Is no flower admired more and understood less lesa the known species of orchids number which are included in genera the diligent search that has bus been made for these plants in every country in the world tor for cultivation purposes and on account of their great beauty Is undoubtedly responsible for the great number of known varieties some of the orchids are terrestrial that Is they grow with their roots in the ground but the greater number are epiphytes air pla plants rits growing on trees and shrubs but receiving no nourishment from them it is a strange fact that orchids while supposed to grow in tropical climates only are grown beautiful specimens of them in the neighborhood of snow rational methods of cultivation have developed leading to the separation of orchids in three kinds of greenhouses according to temperatures maintained in them hot houses tom temperate temper tto houses and cold houses there are some artificially produced hybrids wonderful creations in shape which differ greatly from both parents on account of the difficulty of their production these beautiful plants command fabulous prices thousands of dollars have been paid for beautiful specimens once created however these hybrids may be propagated indefinitely by dividing tho the rootstock root stock as it grows this permanently enriches the collection of conservatories conserva tories A new orchid the marle marie odlie the nun orchid Is a dainty white blossom qz Is extremely rare it to Is hero here pictured |