JULY, 1906.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 197 
light even from failures—till now the question is not how to raise but what 
to raise, to get the best possible results. 
Mr. Charlesworth was good enough to give us the outline of some 
possibilities he has in view. For instance, one Odontoglossum hybrid of 
his own raising will shortly be in flower; this he intends recrossing with a 
very fine variety of one of its parents, and he expects to obtain from this 
second cross a flower that has hitherto been regarded as a species. We had 
the same result in mind, but intend working in a different way, namely, by 
‘crossing the accomplished fact with itself. Possibly we shall obtain the 
same thing—possibly not—but his, although the longer, is the more useful 
‘way, because, if his idea is correct, he will prove the origin of this so-called 
‘species, which would be a very great advantage. 
Mr. Charlesworth is a real enthusiast, and seems to find great pleasure 
in his work, a pleasure easily understood, especially as it is crowned with 
‘such success. 
In going to Mr. MacBean’s we knew what to expect—we had been 
before. Fine growths, fine bulbs, fine spikes; in fact the growth is so 
exuberant that the plants seem to break double, and break back in a most 
‘desirable way, and from sheer love of growing, as though their great vigour 
‘could not find vent in one lead only. I think some of this success is due to 
careful potting with good lasting material, so that frequent disturbance is 
not necessary, and keeping the plants in comparatively small pots. There 
‘can be no doubt as to the impression left from a visit here, and an Orchid 
lover could have no greater treat than a walk through these houses. 
Mr. Bolton is the fortunate possessor of plenty of space for his plants, a 
thing that a good many of us are suffering from the need of. 
He has a large number of houses, and very conveniently arranged, the 
most of them running right and left of a corridor. Those occupied by 
‘Odontoglossums seem to. be supplied with more than the usual amount of 
ventilation; they strike one on entering as being so very fresh and airy. 
The stagings, too, are very low, and one seems to be able to look down on 
to the plants. I believe Mr. Bolton imports a great many of his own 
‘Odontoglossums, and the type seems distinctly good, for we saw some dis- 
tinctly good shaped flowers open on plants flowering for the first time ; and, 
besides, one of the grandest known crispums flowered out of his plants and 
‘was named after him. We saw some splendidly-grown Miltonia vexillaria, 
and some Cattleya gigas in the pink of condition, and breaking very 
strongly. Cypripediums are great favourites of Mr. Bolton and he has 
‘specialized in the albino varieties, increasing his stock largely by division, 
but also by raising from seed obtained by self-fertilization. 
In looking back on our visit to Mr. Crawshay’s collection, several things 
Stand out, one being the great number of plants he manages to get into 
