ORCHID BLOOMS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 195, 19 July 1941, Page 6

ORCHID BLOOMS

MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE. Two beautiful stalks each carrying a dozen orchid flowers, now in full bloom in a hot-house at the residence !of Mr T. P. Hart, in College Street Extension, one of Palmerston North s keenest amateur gardeners, suggest justification for a price of 12s which, it was reported several days ago, was paid in Auckland for such a stalk. Successful cultivation ol orchids demands a particular knowledge on the part of the grower and special and caret id treatment. Jn this ease, the orchid is a Cymbidium Alexandri lloseum, the bloom a soft shell pink. with.petals flc-cked with wine anti the lip heavily eolomed with wine blotches. For about two months the orchid remains in flower, three months having elapsed trom the time when the flower stalk first appeared until it reaches the fioweritfg-ktage. Taking the retail price of a normal orchid bloom at 4s, the figure of 12s for a stalk, carrying, it would be understood, at least a number of blooms, does not seem exorbitant. Further, the particular charm with which orchids are endowed, and tlieir qualities for retaining the lull glory of their beauty over a long period, place them in high regard among connoisseurs of J floral bcauiy.