e Che Orcbid ‘Review ~ g 
VoL: XXIV. ANUARY, 1916. No. 277. 
cae : al : gB | 
ices oe NOTE BOOK. : [Eee 
[i paethinys year passes to its close, and its annals are beclouded with 
the tragedy of a great war—a legacy from its predecessor—which is 
leaving its mark on Orchidology, as on every other branch of the peaceful 
art of horticulture, perhaps more deeply than we are yet able to realise. In 
this country a large number of young men have joined the ranks of His 
Majesty’s forces, with the result that there is a great shortage of labour in 
many establishments, and a corresponding curtailment of all activities 
except those that are absolutely necessary, while in the countries of the 
allies, not only has there been a general call to the colours, but some 
sterner tragedies have been enacted. How far Orchid collections in 
Belgium may have suffered we are unable to say, for the ordinary sources 
of information are closed, but we may recall the fact that a French 
collection of Ancectochili—that of M. Alfred le Gentil—was completely 
destroyed during the bombardment of Arras. 
HORTICULTURAL MEETINGS. 
The meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society and of the Manchester 
and North of England Orchid Society have been held as usual, and with 
Scarcely an exception have produced good displays. of Orchids, though it 
would be idle to pretend that they have been unaffected by the abnormal 
conditions, and amateur exhibits—particularly those from a distance—have 
shown a marked falling off in point of numbers. The big Shows at Chelsea 
and Holland House were up to their old standard in point of quality, 
though a little reduced in extent, and one can easily imagine what a normal 
year whould have produced. A projected Autumn Show was necessarily, 
abandoned until some more favourable opportunity. The Société Nationale 
d’Horticulture de France has resumed its activities by holding a 
monthly meeting, but a glance through the reports shows that the Orchids 
exhibited were very few in number, though they included several very 
interesting novelties. 
