54 



THl' ORCHID 



WORLD. 



[DucfinbtT, 1914. 



which single plants are often sold at the 

 various shows ? 



I have had experience of the prices asked 

 when a timid amateur takes a fancy to an 

 exhibit and ventures an inquiry as to its cost. 

 W ell, to put it shortly — the inquiry is nipped 

 m the bud right awa}', unfortunatel}' with the 

 result that the timid amateur taboos Orchids 

 for ever after. This, I think, should not be the 

 case ; and I believe that an energetic firm 

 could make a success of a cheap department 

 as an auxiliary to its ordinar\- rich connec- 

 tion. Will some firm develop the suggestion ? 



I have nothing to say against the prices of 

 rare plants and li} bnds. These, no doubt, are 

 worth the money asked, as the time and 

 labour expended in their introduction and 

 cultivation are generally very considerable, 

 and there can be no question that the recom- 

 pense is well merited. But this is quite 

 outside my line of contention. All that I wish 

 to bring forward is the suggestion for an 

 energetic firm of importers and growers to 

 make a separate department of their business 

 for distributing the more ordinary kinds of 

 Orchids at a much cheaper rate, and I look 

 forward to such a desirable dex-elopment. If 

 this could be accomplished it seems to me 

 that amateurs would be attracted, and perhaps 

 a big- business built up. — Alf. ]. Paine, 

 W anstcad, Essex. 



" The Orchid Review."— In the November 

 issue an illustration is given of Dendrobium 

 formosum giganteum, together with an inter- 

 esting article on the history of this species 

 from 1832, the year in which it was originally 

 described by Roxburgh, who found it on trees 

 in the forest of Sylhet and on the Garrow 

 Hills, flowering in April and May. The 

 Indian t_\ pe is now rarely seen in gardens, its 

 place having been taken by the Burmese 

 variet}- giganteum, first mentioned in 1866, 

 and imported by Messrs. Hugh Low and Co. 

 Other articles of value are those on Oncidium 

 Leopoldianum and Houlettia Wallisii, illus- 

 trations of both species being included. 



ORCHIDS AT THE NOOK, 

 MAIDSTONE. 



HAVING regard to the fact that the 

 count\' of Kent is frequently alluded 

 to as the Garden of England, it is 

 not to be wondered at that there are numerous 

 collections of Orchids situated within its 

 boundaries. Among those of recent origin is 

 that formed during the last few years by Mr. 

 Edward Clement, of The Nook, Ashford 

 Road, Maidstone. 



Although a suitable climate is a very 

 important factor it is of comparatively little 

 \alue unless the cultivator takes an intelligent 

 interest in the requirements of the various 

 plants. The cultivation of the majority of 

 Orchids is fairly simple and can be carried 

 out with considerable success when once the 

 essential points are mastered. Mr. Clement 

 has not only reaped a large measure of 

 success with a varied collection of Odonto- 

 giossums and Cattleyas, but he has hit upon 

 the exact conditions necessary to cultivate 

 some of the more refractory subjects. It is 

 worthy of special mention that Mrs. Clement 

 is also an enthusiastic Orchidist, and has 

 received many plants of Cattleya labiata from 

 her brother now residing in Brazil. 



An important point in this collection is the 

 construction of the floor of the cool house. 

 This was originally of glazed tiles set on a 

 bed of concrete, and by no means favourable 

 to a suitable atmosphere being maintained. 

 Instead of removing them Mr. Clement 

 decided to place upon them a layer of small 

 clinkers intermixed with oak leaves and 

 surfaced with gravel. The gradual decom- 

 position of the leaves produces a beneficial 

 and humid atmosphere during the whole of 

 the growing season, after which a fresh supply 

 IS needed. This seems a far better method 

 than allowing the leaves to remain uncovered 

 and to be the hiding place for slugs and other 

 unwelcome guests. 



One of the results of this arrangement is 

 seen in a robust plant of L\caste Skinneri 

 with perfect foliage, there being no sign of 

 the decaying tips so pre\alent with this 

 species when grown under glass in an 



