DECEMBER, 1908.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 358 
ORCHIDS AT WESTONBIRT. 
In the concluding note of our last month’s article entitled “ Orchids at 
Westonbirt” (pp. 321-328) we alluded to a new range of Orchid houses 
recently erected by Lieut-Col. Holford, which embodies several interesting 
features, and now we are able to give some particulars of the 
same. 
Owing to the rapid growth of the collection it became evident that 
unless the plants were to suffer from overcrowding, increased accommodation 
must be provided. Inconsidering the best way of doing this Mr. Alexander 
proposed to erect a block of houses quite away from the existing ones and 
out inthe open. Some novel structural details were also proposed, and in 
spite of one or two dissentient opinions Col. Holford decided to carry out 
the idea, the situation chosen being completely open, with only a wood to 
the north as a shelter against cold winds. 
The new block consists of three parallel ranges, running north and 
south, with an interval between them, these being divided by a partition in 
the middle into six houses, each fifty feet long by twelve feet broad. At the 
north they are connected to the potting shed, boiler houses, &c., everything 
in this respect being very conveniently arranged. 
The houses themselves are particularly light and airy structures, with 
side stages and an open iron-work central stage, the latter having an open 
pathway throughout, so that the pots, stages, &c., can be syringed from 
beneath, thus ensuring the necessary supply of moisture in the atmosphere, 
on which successful culture so largely depends. Tanks for storing rain- 
water are placed here and there beneath the stages, SO as to be readily 
accessible. Second, or moisture-retaining stages, if not abolished, are 
greatly modified in form, being limited to iron sheeting laid on the pipes— 
themselves laid close to the ground, on which some moist earth is spread, and 
this serves to deflect the heat and prevent it from reaching the plants before 
taking up a sufficient amount of moisture. The idea is that the second 
stage should be as far from the plants as possible, so as not to impede a 
proper circulation of air at any point. In the Odontoglossum house, where 
little artificial heat is necessary, these iron sheets have not yet oo fixed, 
though Col. Holford remarked that they could be added at once if thought 
desirable. The amount of piping is greater than is often used, and this 
enables the required temperatures to be kept up without the pipes them- 
selves being hot enough to do mischief. ae 
Other points, such as drip-proof sash-bars, ample ventilation, shading, 
cinder paths, &c., are naturally of an up-to-date character. In respect to 
shading we have to correct an error which inadvertently crept a wi notes 
at page 321. The blinds used at Westonbirt are not lath blinds, but are 
