338 THE ORCHID REVIEW. |NovEMBER, 1923. 
ORCHIDS AT WESTGATE HILL, BRADFORD. 
HE history of the firm of Messrs. A. J. Keeling & Son goes back to 
1893, but before this date the late Mr. A. J. Keeling had spent many 
years of his life in cultivating Orchids. Although his first result in 
hybridising was seen in Cypripedium apiculatum (barbatum xX Boxallii), 
which flowered in 1886, it was Cyp. Juno (callosum x Fairrieanum) that 
brought him prominently to notice, for this beautiful hybrid flowered in the 
short period of two years and eleven months from the time of fertilisation, a 
remarkable achievement. A figure of it is given on page 249 of our August 
issue. Soon after the late Mr. Charlesworth commenced seed raising, Mr. 
Keeling went to Heaton to assist in the work. A few years later he started 
in business for himself at Bingley, Yorks, and in 1899 produced the elegant 
Cypripedium bingleyense (Charlesworthii x Harrisianum), probably the first 
hybrid Cypripedium having a rose-flushed dorsal sepal. The business 
continued to expand, and in 1g02 was removed to Westgate Hill, Bradford. 
Its founder died in September, 1920, leaving Mr. Arthur Keeling to carry 
on the reputation made during thirty years of Orchid cultivation. 
As regards the atmosphere in and around Bradford, no one can call it 
particularly favourable for cultivating Orchids, but some three miles from 
the centre of this important city, Mr. Keeling found at Westgate Hill a 
suitable place for constructing his nursery, and where, at an altitude of 800 
feet,a somewhat clearer atmosphere prevails. The glass-houses are con- 
structed on the span-roof style, and are provided with up-to-date means for 
controlling the necessary heating, ventilation, and shading. 
Messrs. Keeling have always been noted for high-class Cypripediums, 
and many thousands of these popular plants have been distributed by them. 
Keeling’s variety of Leeanum has had many Years of popularity, and even 
to-day is much esteemed by amateurs. Other well-known hybrids largely 
cultivated are Maudiz, Alma Gavaert, and Bianca. A very large flower is 
to be seen in Cyp. Idina, Beckton’s variety, and another in Cyp. John 
Hartley, to which a First-class Certificate was given by the Royal Horticul- 
tural Society, December 3rd, 1918. Other Cypripediums that have been 
raised and sent out by this firm are Becktoniz, always considered a model 
flower, Bedfordiz (A.M., R.H.S.), a very fine production, and Brigadier, 
derived from the crossing of Leeanum Keeling’s var. with Gaston Bultel, 
but not yet exhibited. There are fine plants of Cyp. Duchess of Marl- 
borough, Royal George, and Nirvana, the latter having a very large clear- 
white dorsal sepal. 
Several of the fine Cypripedium hybrids raised at Westonbirt are here 
to be seen, some of them in several strong plants with many growths; they 
include Corsair, Golden Fleece, Bianca, and Nydia. Among the numerous 
