The cult of the orchid has long had a peculiar fascination, and the possession of an orchid collection has been regarded as the hall-mark of respectability and affluence. Probably no other family of the vegetable kingdom is surrounded with so much romance. One well-known orchid firm in England not long ago employed experienced travellers to explore the tropics, especially of America and Asia, for rare orchids, chartered ships for transporting them to England, and ...
