Despairing of horticulture indoors as out, I sometimes thought of orchids15. I had seen much of them in their native homes, both East and West—enough to understand that their growth is governed by strict law. Other plants—roses and so forth16—are always playing tricks. They must have this and that treatment at certain times, the nature of which could not be precisely17 described, even if gardening books were written by men used to carry all the points of a subject in their minds, and to express exactly what they mean. Experience alone, of rather a dirty and uninteresting class, will give the skill necessary for success. And then they commit villanies of ingratitude18 beyond explanation. I knew that orchids must be quite different. Each class demands certain conditions as a preliminary: if none of them can be provided, it is a waste of money to buy plants. But when the needful conditions are present, and the poor things, thus relieved of a ceaseless preoccupation, can attend to business, it follows like a mathematical demonstration19 that if you treat them in such and such a way, such and such results will assuredly ensue. I was not aware then that many defy the most patient analysis of cause and effect. That knowledge is familiar now; but it does not touch the argument. Those cases also are governed by rigid laws, which we do not yet understand.
Therefore I perceived or suspected, at an early date, that orchid14 culture is, as one may say, the natural province of an intelligent and enthusiastic amateur who has not the technical skill required for growing common plants. For it is brain-work—the other mechanical. But I shared the popular notion—which seems so very absurd now—that they are costly21 both to purchase and to keep: shared it so ingenuously22 that I never thought to ask myself how or why they could be more expensive, after the first outlay23, than azaleas or gardenias24. And meanwhile I was laboriously25 and impatiently gathering26 some comprehension of the ordinary plants. It was accident which broke the spell of ignorance. Visiting Stevens' Auction27 Rooms one day to buy bulbs, I saw a Cattleya Mossi?, in bloom, which had not found a purchaser at the last orchid sale. A lucky impulse tempted28 me to ask the price. "Four shillings," said the invaluable29 Charles. I could not believe it—there must be a mistake: as if Charles ever made a mistake in his life! When he repeated the price, however, I seized that precious Cattleya, slapped down the money, and fled with it along King Street, fearing pursuit. Since no one followed, and Messrs. Stevens did not write within the next few days reclaiming30 my treasure, I pondered the incident calmly. Perhaps they had been selling bankrupt stock, and perhaps they often do so. Presently I returned.
"Charles!" I said, "you sold me a Cattleya Mossi? the other day."
Charles, in shirt-sleeves of course, was analyzing31 and summing up half a hundred loose sheets of figures, as calm and sure as a calculating machine. "I know I did, sir," he replied, cheerfully.
"It was rather dear, wasn't it?" I said.
"That's your business, sir," he laughed.
"Could I often get an established plant of Cattleya Mossi? in flower for 4s.?" I asked.
"Give me the order, and I'll supply as many as you are likely to want within a month."
That was a revelation; and I tell the little story because I know it will be a revelation to many others. People hear of great sums paid for orchids, and they fancy that such represent only the extreme limits of an average. In fact, they have no relation whatsoever32 to the ordinary price. One of our largest general growers, who has but lately begun cultivating those plants, tells me that half-a-crown is the utmost he has paid for Cattleyas and Dendrobes, one shilling for Odontoglots and Oncidiums. At these rates he has now a fine collection, many turning up among the lot for which he asks, and gets, as many pounds as the pence he gave. For such are imported, of course, and sold at auction as they arrive. This is not an article on orchids, but on "My Gardening," or I could tell some extraordinary tales. Briefly, I myself once bought a case two feet long, a foot wide, half-full of Odontoglossums for 8s. 6d. They were small bits, but perfect in condition. Of the fifty-three pots they made, not one, I think, has been lost. I sold the less valuable some years ago, when established and tested, at a fabulous33 profit. Another time I bought three "strings34" of O. Alexandr?, the Pacho variety, which is finest, for 15s. They filled thirty-six pots, some three to a pot, for I could not make room for them all singly. Again—but this is enough. I only wish to demonstrate, for the service of very small amateurs like myself, that costliness35 at least is no obstacle if they have a fancy for this culture: unless, of course, they demand wonders and "specimens36."
That Cattleya Mossi?, was my first orchid, bought in 1884. It dwindled37 away, and many another followed it to limbo38; but I knew enough, as has been said, to feel neither surprised nor angry. First of all, it is necessary to understand the general conditions, and to secure them. Books give little help in this stage of education; they all lack detail in the preliminaries. I had not the good fortune to come across a friend or a gardener who grasped what was wrong until I found out for myself. For instance, no one told me that the concrete flooring of my house was a fatal error. When, a little disheartened, I made a new one, by glazing39 that ruelle mentioned in the preliminary survey of my garden, they allowed me to repeat it. Ingenious were my contrivances to keep the air moist, but none answered. It is not easy to find a material trim and clean which can be laid over concrete, but unless one can discover such, it is useless to grow orchids. I have no doubt that ninety-nine cases of failure in a hundred among amateurs are due to an unsuitable flooring. Glazed40 tiles, so common, are infinitely41 worst of all. May my experience profit others in like case!
Looking over the trade list of a man who manufactures orchid-pots one day, I observed, "Sea-sand for Garden Walks," and the preoccupation of years was dissipated. Sea-sand will hold water, yet will keep a firm, clean surface; it needs no rolling, does not show footprints nor muddy a visitor's boots. By next evening the floors were covered therewith six inches deep, and forthwith my orchids began to flourish—not only to live. Long since, of course, I had provided a supply of water from the main to each house for "damping down." All round them now a leaden pipe was fixed42, with pin-holes twelve inches apart, and a length of indiarubber hose at the end to fix upon the "stand-pipe." Attaching this, I turn the cock, and from each tiny hole spurts43 forth a jet, which in ten minutes will lay the whole floor under water, and convert the house into a shallow pond; but five minutes afterwards not a sign of the deluge44 is visible. Then I felt the joys of orchid culture. Much remained to learn—much still remains. We have some five thousand species in cultivation45, of which an alarming number demand some difference of treatment if one would grow them to perfection. The amateur does not easily collect nor remember all this, and he is apt to be daunted46 if he inquire too deeply before "letting himself go." Such in especial I would encourage. Perfection is always a noble aim; but orchids do not exact it—far from that! The dear creatures will struggle to fulfil your hopes, to correct your errors, with pathetic patience. Give them but a chance, and they will await the progress of your education. That chance lies, as has been said, in the general conditions—the degree of moisture you can keep in the air, the ventilation, and the light. These secured, you may turn up the books, consult the authorities, and gradually accumulate the knowledge which will enable you to satisfy the preferences of each class. So, in good time, you may enjoy such a thrill of pleasure as I felt the other day when a great pundit47 was good enough to pay me a call. He entered my tiny Odontoglossum house, looked round, looked round again, and turned to me. "Sir," he said, "we don't call this an amateur's collection!"
I have jotted48 down such hints of my experience as may be valuable to others, who, as Juvenal put it, own but a single lizard's run of earth. That space is enough to yield endless pleasure, amusement, and indeed profit, if a man cultivate it himself. Enthusiast20 as I am, I would not accept another foot of garden.
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1
apprenticeship
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| n.学徒身份；学徒期 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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shudders
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| n.颤动，打颤，战栗( shudder的名词复数 )v.战栗( shudder的第三人称单数 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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mildew
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| n.发霉；v.（使）发霉 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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scaly
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| adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的 | |
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well-being
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| n.安康，安乐，幸福 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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orchid
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| n.兰花，淡紫色 | |
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orchids
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| n.兰花( orchid的名词复数 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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ingenuously
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| adv.率直地，正直地 | |
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outlay
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| n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费 | |
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gardenias
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| n.栀子属植物，栀子花( gardenia的名词复数 ) | |
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laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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auction
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| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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reclaiming
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| v.开拓( reclaim的现在分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救 | |
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31
analyzing
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| v.分析；分析( analyze的现在分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析n.分析 | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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strings
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| n.弦 | |
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costliness
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| 昂贵的 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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limbo
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| n.地狱的边缘；监狱 | |
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glazing
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| n.玻璃装配业；玻璃窗；上釉；上光v.装玻璃( glaze的现在分词 )；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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40
glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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43
spurts
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| 短暂而突然的活动或努力( spurt的名词复数 )； 突然奋起 | |
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44
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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45
cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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46
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pundit
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| n.博学之人；权威 | |
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48
jotted
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| v.匆忙记下( jot的过去式和过去分词 )；草草记下，匆匆记下 | |
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