322 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [NOVEMBER, 1908. 
stages. The remaining six houses form a separate range of more recent 
construction, and will be mentioned later. 
Having indicated the general conditions thus briefly, we must pass to the 
plants themselves, and here we may remark that a very high standard of 
excellence is reached, both as regards quality and culture. Colonel 
Holford is a great enthusiast, and in Mr. H. G. Alexander, who has charge 
of the collection, he has one of the most skilful growers of the day. There 
is a competent staff of assistants, an adequate supply of all the necessary 
materials, and a pure country air, free from the deleterious influence of 
urban fog; in short, all the essentials of successful Orchid culture are 
present, and the result is a condition of general excellence which it was a 
pleasure to see. We must now follow the order of our notes, but can only 
mention a few of the leading features. To describe such a collection in 
detail would be impossible. 
The first house visited was devoted chiefly to Odontoglossums and 
Masdevallias of the coccinea section, with a number of Sophronitis grandi- 
flora, Lelia pumila, and other dwarf plants suspended on two wires running 
throughout its length. The Masdevallias are clean, sturdy plants, and 
include most of the finest varieties. Very few were in flower at this season 
except two plants of the very distinct M. x Bocking hybrid. The Odonto- 
glossums are remarkably well-grown, vigorous plants, with large, hard 
bulbs, and that dark green foliage which tells of perfect cultural conditions. 
Osmunda fibre with a little sphagnum is used for a compost, and the plants 
are started in as small pots as possible, and then shifted on as required, a 
method which results in the compost being kept full of healthy roots, and 
avoids check to the plants when repotted. A few were in bloom, and many 
sturdy spikes were pushing up. One O. crispum carried two spikes, the best 
with fifteen beautiful flowers. We also noted a few hybrid seedlings in 
healthy condition. Several plants of Lelia pumila were in bloom, including 
one good form with six flowers, also several good pans of Sophronitis 
grandiflora. A plant of the beautiful Odontoglossum crispum Queen-Empress 
was pointed out by Col. Holford as having acurious history. It is a small 
piece from the plant in the collection of W. Thompson, Esq., which 
received a First-class Certificate from the R.H.S. in March, 1go1. For five 
or six years it made scarcely any progress, the roots dying and the bulbs 
being much shrivelled, but at last it started, and is now growing well and 
throwing up a spike. 
Next we entered a house of Vanda ccerulea, 30 feet long by 12 broad. 
The Plants were strong and healthy, and about a hundred spikes were 
pushing up. A few were in bloom, but many had been removed to the 
flowering house, which we shall describe presently. Col. Holford pointed 
out the curious habit this species has of developing its flowers after 
