ee eee 
Jury, 1923.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 197 
THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW. 
oe it rained in torrents on the opening day the immense 
tents were crowded with visitors, so great is the enthusiasm for 
horticulture and the attractions of any special section in which members 
of the public are interested. On the second and third days of the Show 
the attendance was even greater, and considerable difficulty was frequently 
experienced by amateurs who desired to examine more closely any 
Particular plant. The early morning was certainly the best time for 
inspecting the exhibits with freedom and pleasure, and we advise amateurs 
to take advantage of this period on future occasions. Although there is 
never any formal opening the King and Queen made an extensive tour 
round all the exhibits, the splendid array of Orchids causing them to spend 
much time in the section specially reserved for these plants. 
Taking into consideration the whole of the various exhibits, the 
general excellence was quite up to the usual high standard, while the 
Orchids alone surpassed all expectations. The fact that the Sherwood 
Challenge Cup for the most meritorious group and the Cain Challenge 
Cup for the best exhibit by an amateur were both awarded to groups of 
‘Orchids is indeed an event that all lovers of these beautiful flowers may 
well be proud of, for it fully proves that Orchids have a superiority all 
their own and that their cultivation is successfully accomplished by both 
amateur and trade growers. 
_ The great deficiency of sunshine during the spring time made it a 
difficult matter for cultivators to include many Cattleyas in their groups, 
and those that were staged showed, on the whole, a lessened amount of 
vigour. But an exception occurred in Cattleya Prince Shimadzu var. 
Olympus, which not only received a First-class Certificate, but was 
generally considered by experts to be the finest Orchid in this year’s 
Chelsea Show. Perfect in formation and coloration, it came in for wide- 
Spread appreciation and one can imagine what a wonderful flower will be 
Produced under the more suitable conditions of abundant sunshine. 
Cattleya Irene var. Our Queen, with a large pure-white flower, was 
certainly well above the usual type of albino Cattleyas. 
Of late years Cymbidiums have come very much to the front. They 
enjoy a popularity largely gained by their decorative habit and easy 
Cultivation. These qualities have been produced mainly through C. 
insigne, and of the many fine varieties staged by the various exhibitors the 
best was certainly C. Castor var. Laburnum in the group of Pantia Ralli, 
Esq. The tall arching spike of large yellowish flowers was frequently 
picked out for special praise by experts as well as by the uninitiated. At 
the recent Ghent Quinquennial Exhibition, the Cymbidiums were much 
