JUNE, 1903.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 165 
ORCHIDS AT MOORTEBEEK. 
FIVE years ago we made the acquaintance of the Orchid establishment of 
Messrs. Lucien Linden & Co., at Moortebeek, then about two years old, 
and the recent Ghent Show afforded an opportunity of renewing it. The 
houses are arranged in a compact block, running right and left of a central 
corridor, seven on each side, about 25 yards long, and connected by the 
half-span system. 
The central house or corridor is over 100 feet long by 22 feet wide, and 
contains a large number of Cattleyas and Lelias, in splendid health, 
arranged on an open stage, with a raised path along the centre. On either 
side of this path we observed a row of seedlings, arranged many together in 
hanging baskets, and also a fine lot of Lelia anceps and other things 
suspended from the roof. 
On entering the first Odontoglossam house on the left we found 
the plants in the most robust health, and it may be _ interesting 
to describe the conditions under which they are grown, and the method 
of treatment. The seven Odontoglossum houses, on one side of the central 
corridor, have the common roof supported on pillars, the divisions only 
descending to some four feet from the ground, thus allowing a free circula- 
tion of air throughout, and also, by stooping a little, an uninterrupted view 
of the plants from end to end of the block. The plants are grown in a com- 
post of polypodium fibre and sphagnum, and are kept in as small pots as 
possible. The stages are, of course, open, and there is a constant circula- 
tion of air, which is kept as moist as possible. Each alternate house has a 
tank under the stage for the reception of rain water, which alone is used, 
and this tank can be reached from every pathway. Many of the plants are 
also stood upon specially constructed saucers, having a raised centre, on 
which the pots are placed, and a broad channel all round, which is kept full 
of water, and thus protects the plants from the attacks of slugs, &c. These 
saucers seem to be much appreciated, for M. Linden stated that a further 
large consignment had been ordered. Some of the pots were also placed 
in baskets, and suspended over the paths. The paths are of shingle, which 
absorbs plenty of water, while remaining perfectly clean on the surface. 
Seven of these Odontoglossum houses were successively entered, the 
plants everywhere being in perfect health, and many of them showing remark- 
able vigour. Owing to the late season there was not very much in bloom, but 
vigorous spikes were pushing up everywhere, and among those actually in 
flower we noted several good forms of O. crispum and O. x Ander- 
sonianum, O. X Coradinei, O. luteopurpureum, O. gloriosum, O. sceptrum, 
and a very yellow form of O. triumphans. A form of O. crispum having 
the leaves white at the margin was also interesting. 
