206 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[June, 1915 



proper ventilation and the right style of 

 heating, it is possible to maintain the 

 atmosphere of the whole house in a suitable 

 condition, instead of only the portion 

 surrounding the actual i^lants, as is the 

 case when a double staging is the sole 

 means used to create atmospheric moisture. — 



Vurcniau. 



ORCHIDS AT CAMDEN PARK, 

 TUNBRIDGE WELLS. 



THERE are several good collections of 

 Orchids round about Tunbridge 

 Wells, that formed by Mr. E. R. 

 Ashton, of Broadlands, Camden I^ark, being 

 of particular interest, for it contains not only 

 good species, but a comprehensive selection 

 of hybrids. 



Among those which have recently been in 

 flower mention may be made of Cattleya 

 Claesiana alba (intermedia alba x Loddigesii 

 alba), with pure white flowers of thick 

 substance, and an improvement on the 

 original and coloured form of this hybrid 

 first flowered m i8(jy. There is also an 

 excellent variety of Laeho-Cattleya Wellsiana 

 (purjiurata x Trianae) with white segments, 

 the lip slightly coloured ; it is a most useful 

 h\'brid for producing a display in the early 

 months of the year. Cattleya Antiope is the 

 result of crossing Chamberlainiana (Eeopoldii 

 X aurea) and aurea, and is interesting on 

 account of its yellow flowers and the way 

 they are made of long lasting nature by the 

 inclusion of Eeopoldii in the parentage. 

 Although Cattleya citrina has a bad reputa- 

 tion, there are occasional exceptions, a plant 

 m this collection has flowered regularly for 

 the last seventeen years, and appears likely 

 to continue in the same prosperous condition. 



Coelogyne Mooreana and C. Lawrenceana 

 are two handsome representatives of this 

 genus, which very rarely receives its due 

 attention, for apart from numerous small 

 flowering species, there are some which make 

 attractive points in any Orcliid house. 



At the Chelsea Show of 1914 there were 

 many superb Miltonias ; indeed, it was 

 described by some as a Miltonia show, so 

 numerous and popular were they. ]\Ir. Ashton 

 has obtained a wide selection of the old 

 varieties as well as many of the latest 

 productions. One of the prettiest is Miltonia 

 vexillaria Eyoth, raised from v. chelseaensis 

 and V. G. D. Owen, the large rose flower 

 having a dark crimson blotch with radiating 

 lines ; it is an improvement on the former 

 parent. A charming flower is to be seen m 

 vexillaria Lambeauiana, as well as in v. Queen 

 Alexandra. The gem of this section is 

 Miltonia Charlesworthii, with an immense 

 rich crimson blotch on the basal part of 

 the labellum, and possessing a vigorous 

 constitution. 



With the ever popular Odontoglossums 

 there is always something of interest, and one 

 cannot help noticing" the wide improvement 

 to be seen m the most recent productions ox er 

 those of twenty years ago. Some of the old 

 varieties are in this collection, and include 

 crispum Queen Victoria, c. Annie and c. 

 Rossendale. In the same house are several 

 choice varieties of Eycaste Skinneri and 

 Cymbidiums Pauwelsii and Gottianum. 



Odontioda Ashtonii (C. Noezliana x O. 

 Armstrongiae), bears the owner's name, and 

 was one of last year's novelties. Other recent 

 productions in this class include Charles- 

 worthii, the pretty Cupid (C. Noezliana x O. 

 ramosissimum), Brewii and Royal Gem, the 

 latter having an attractive flower of yellow 

 ground colour with scarlet-red markings. 

 Mention may also be made of Odontonia 

 brugensis (O. Edwardii x M. vexillaria) and 

 Miltonioda Harwoodii (C. Noezliana x M. 

 vexillaria), both remarkable hybrids. 



Among the numerous Cattleya hybrids a 

 novelty of considerable promise is to be seen in 

 C. Sybil (aurea x iridescens), the latter parent 

 being a hybrid between bicolor and Eldorado. 

 It is very pleasing to note the keen interest 

 which Mr. Ashton always takes in his 

 plants, and it is mainly on this account 

 that he obtains such excellent results, 

 l)oth ill \igorous plants and many-flowered 

 spikes. 



