April-May, 1916.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



153 



DENDROBIUMS AT TUNBRIDGE 

 WELLS. 



TO the Orchid enthusiast all roads lead 

 to those establishments where one 

 has the privilege of welcome, ever 

 seekmg- for fresh beauties to refresh the mind, 

 and to feast the eyes on a vision of loveliness, 

 not the vision of a dream which fades away 

 into a mist of unreality, but something real, 

 an impression which is permanent and 

 refreshing. 



And even so it was that one felt drawn to 

 wander around the houses of Messrs. Arm- 

 strong and Brown, at Tunbridge Wells, seek- 

 ing what to devour and digest. But the 

 principal object was to see the Dendrobiums 

 in flower, which are usually a feature here 

 in their season. 



Blooms were coming thick and fast, and, 

 by the time these notes appear will be at 

 their best. Let the reader imagine a corridor 

 nearly 100 yards long, the back wall of which 

 is occupied with some 300 to 400 plants, 

 species and hybrids of the nobile section ; 

 imagine the greater part of these plants 

 carrying numerous flowers, and one is able 

 somewhat to form an idea of this floral 

 display. 



True It IS that most of the plants are com- 

 parative youngsters, and as each succeeding 

 year shows greater vigour and large 

 growths, so will future displays put into the 

 shade each previous array, that is, if they stay 

 there ; most of the larger specimens found 

 another home some time ago. A feature which 

 strikes one on entering the corridor are the 

 numerous groups of D. nobile virginale of the 

 very finest type, the broad sepals and petals 

 and large lip making a flower of perfect form 

 and of the purest white possible. A snowy 

 picture withal. 



In close company are the richly-coloured 

 D. nobile nobilius, making a contrast readily 

 appreciated, and mingled with these are some 

 D. nobile Thwaitesii, reputed to be the finest 

 of the nobile type. D. Othello Colmanias has 

 a very large lip, which marks it as one of the 

 best. A Dendrobe of distinction is Cybele, 

 with the deep maroon blotch slightly edged 



with gold. D. splendidissimum illustre has a 

 fine rich lip. D. Wiganias xanthochilum is 

 rich primrose with crimson blotch. 



Another choice Dendrobe is Alice Bound 

 var. giganteum. Hard to beat for form and 

 colour is D. Armstrongii, purest white sepals 

 and petals, with rich plum-coloured throat. 

 D. Salteri is a good thing, the lip amethyst, 

 orange and crimson. Very showy, too, is 

 Robsonianum x nobile Amesiae, pure white 

 with an intense deep purple blotch. Inter- 

 mingled with the above are numerous yellows, 

 viz., D. chessingtonense, one of the grandest 

 hybrids ever raised and a great favourite with 

 the writer. I shall not soon forget the first 

 time I saw this gem at its home of origin. D. 

 signatum and D. aureum are represented in 

 robust plants. 



The various varieties show what a wid'^ 

 range of beauty exists in these showy Orchids, 

 and one can realise the pleasing effect pre- 

 sented, providing so much to admire and 

 appreciate. As one proceeds along, now and 

 again you turn your head to peer in through 

 the door of each succeeding house, anxious 

 and anticipating what new beauties are born 

 to the light of day — their advent into 

 Nature's competition, they take their place in 

 silence, yet speaking rivals all, leaving their 

 destiny to man's superior dictum. 



No stale moments here, wandering among 

 the Odontoglossums, Odontiodas and Odon- 

 tonias, continually new flowers come into 

 being claiming their birthright to beautify 

 the world and to claim man's admiration. 

 There are many other items of interest I 

 should desire to mention, but I fear I have 

 already encroached on Mr. Editor's space, so 

 must postpone that pleasure to another day. 

 — H. A. Farmer. 



Alteration of Names. — The Manchester 

 Orchid Society announce the following 

 alterations of names on record: — December 

 1 6th, 191 S) Cypripedium Golden Gem, 

 exhibited by Mr. R. Ashworth, to be Golden 

 Fleece; January 6th, 191 6, Brasso-Cattleya 

 Doris, exhibited by Mr. P. Smith, to be 

 Brasso-Cattleya Bianca. 



VOL. VL 



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