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on VoL. XXIV. June, 1916. No. 282. oa 
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N interesting collection of Orchids which we have recently had the 
pleasure of seeing is that of Pantia Ralli, Esq., Ashtead Park, Surrey, 
which dates back for about 25 years. When the place came into Mr. 
Ralli’s possession it contained a few Orchids, which soon grew into a good 
collection of the ordinary species and varieties. During the last six or 
seven years, however, the place has been revolutionised, many of the more 
ordinary things having been replaced by the best hybrids and modern 
_ varieties, while much attention has been paid to the fascinating work of 
raising seedlings, which is being carried on with great success—in fact we 
saw seedlings in every stage, including a number of interesting things in 
Sg _ ORCHIDS AT ASHSTEAD PARK. 
bloom. 
Three ranges are devoted to Orchids, each about eighty feet long, and 
these are divided into nine houses, while a few special things are grown 
elsewhere. The houses are built upon the modern system, with lath roller 
blinds, and top and bottom ventilators, which are easily and conveniently 
worked from the inside by means of levers. The heating arrangements are 
ample, and the paths run through the centre, the plants standing upon side 
stages, while others are suspended from the roof by means of wires running 
along the sides of the paths. Earth floors with iron gratings along the 
pathways provide an ample supply of atmospheric moisture. 
We first entered the range of Odontoglossum houses, and found many 
features of interest, some excellent things being in bloom, while many 
others were throwing up sturdy spikes. Among those noted were Odonto- 
glossum crispum Hilda, a beautiful white, O. c. Raymond Crawshay, 
bearing a spike of fourteen rosy flowers blotched with cinnamon, O. 
Hyeanum with ten flowers, O. Phcebe, O. Boadicea (armainvillierense x 
triumphans), O. Ernestii with two panicles, O. eximium with five side 
branches, and several very diverse forms of O. Farnesii (Rolfee x Craw- 
shayanum). One had yellow sepals and petals blotched with brown, anda 
very large white lip with small purple spots at the base; another had 
brown sepals and petals tipped with yellow, and the apex of the lip white, 
and a third had much of the Crawshayanum character in the sepals and 
