284 THE ORCHID REVIEW [DECEMBER, 1916, 
THE GLYMPTON COLLECTION OF ORCHIDS. 
ees AN AMATEUR’S COLLECTION. eed 
HEN speaking to the Editor some time ago, I remarked that in the 
north of England there were many ‘‘keen”’ amateurs, and that 
some of their collections were most creditable. He replied that he would 
much like an account of some of them, and the matter ended with my 
promising a few notes. Hence the following, and for the purpose of the 
article I must give my definition of an Amateur as a gentleman growing 
Orchids without the assistance of a regular gardener. 
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Frank Burton, Esq., late of 
Blackburn, now of Glympton, Blackpool. Mr. Burton has been growing 
Orchids for eight years, and for some time before he commenced he was 
fascinated, but was kept back by the general idea that they were very 
expensive and difficult to manage. This idea being dispelled, he built a 
small house, 12ft. by 8ft., that registered a temperature of 40° to 55° in bad 
weather. 
Cool house Orchids were the objective, and he commenced with 
Odontoglossums; crispum, grande, Edwardii, Uroskinneri, Pescatorei, and 
triumphans, some dozen or so plants being his first trial. They did very 
well, and he added more plants, particularly of O. crispum and Pescatorei. 
His interest grew, and he put up a further house, 6ft. by 8ft., which, by the 
way, he was able to keep a few degrees warmer. He then tried a few 
mixed things, Cattleyas and the warmer-growing Cypripediums, which, 
however, did not flower to his satisfaction. He had difficulty in keeping 
the house up to 60° in severe weather, and he admits that he was advised 
not to try the Cattleyas in this house, but was so fascinated with this 
showy section that he was willing to risk a few plants to gain experience. 
As Cattleyas would not do in this section, he gave Oncidiums a trial, 
adding O. Forbesii, tigrinum, varicosum Rogersii, concolor, Gardneri, &c. 
They were soon found to be suitable for the house, and I have seen for 
several years splendid results. As to O. tigrinum, I have never seen better, 
they carry big strong spikes every year. The others do very well, with the 
possible exception of O. varicosum Rogersii, which, after a year or SO, 
appears to deteriorate. This is a general experience, possibly because its 
large handsome spikes of yellow flowers are left too long on the plant, or 
that insufficient care is taken of the aerial roots. The Mexican Odonto- 
glossums did well in this house, O. Rossii majus flowering regularly and 
very profusely. 
At this period his plants were making rapid strides, and he had to build 
another house 16ft. by 16ft. Stages were placed all round, leaving a nice 
