ORCHID HUNTING.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7871, 23 May 1891, Page 2

ORCHID HUNTING.

Orchid hunting appears to be a fine adventurous sport—not so exciting, -perhaps, as Waterton's snaring of the caymans with baited hooka In the great rivara of Brazil, but getting on that way. Unfortunately, the most prized of our orchids are reported to be rapidly disappearing from their native places. According to the Journal dcs Orchidies, in the environs of Pacho (Ecuador), where hundreds of thousands of specimens of the Odontoglossum Alexandres have been collected, only a few plants are now left, Iv other places where it once flourished, it has entirely vanished. Though not in the true sense of the word a parasite, this beautiful plant prefers to grow upon the trunks of trees, which the natives dread to climb on account of the scorpions and stinging ants. Hence the practice is to fell the huge tree, with the frequent result that no orchid is found. The hunters, it is stated, separate into parties of five or tea, and disappear for a fortnight in the dense South American forest, relying for food in great part upon their guns, and sleeping at night In hammocks. When sufficient specimens have been collected they are cleaned, wiped dry, placed carefully in crates on the backs of mules, and thus carried to the point of embarkation—Honda—on the river Magdalena. The journey occupies at least five days, even if tbe party are lucky enough to escape the frequent tropical rains which convert peaceful brooks into raging torrents, -sometimes it is found necessary to throw temporary bridges over these suddenly swollen watercourses and to carry the crates across by hand, while the mules, relieved of their burdens, swim across as they beat can. Tbe withering torrid heat is the greatest difficulty. Once aboard the Transatlantic liners at Savanilla the precious orchids, though tbey have still a two months' voyage pefore them, have already mcountere4 more than half the perils of their lpng journey,—D»i/- T*Wh