October, 1913-] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



II 



ORCHIDS AT 

 TUNBRIDGE WELLS. 



THERE was a time, not many years 

 ago, when large miportations of 

 Orchid species were cultivated for the 

 express purpose of discovering the rarities 

 and beautiful forms. Whole houses were 

 devoted to one particular species, the number 

 of plants being reckoned by thousands. 

 This method of obtaining choice Orchids has 

 gradually given place to that of the 

 hybridist, who by his art and skill now 

 creates flowers of greater beauty and more 

 varied colour. 



The establishment of Messrs. Armstrong 

 and Brown, Sandhurst Park, Tunbridge 

 Wells, is mainly devoted to the raising and 

 flowering of hybrid Orchids. Although the 

 first house was only erected about twelve 

 years ago, the stock has increased so rapidly 

 that thirteen large houses are now entirely 

 filled with plants. The arrangement of the 

 houses and potting sheds, all connected by 

 suitable corridors, is excellent, and those who 

 wish to see a model establishment would do 

 well to visit this place. The electric light has 

 recently been installed throughout all the 

 buildings. 



One house is devoted to the actual process 

 of seed germination. It is somewhat narrow, 

 with staging on both sides, and with twelve 

 rows of 4-inch hot-water pipes to maintain 

 a suitable temperature. There is no doubt 

 that much of the success is due to rapid 

 germination and growth in the primary 

 stages. The seedlings then make clean, 

 healthy growths, and continue doing so until 

 the flowering stage is reached. The seed- 

 pans are partly filled with a moss and fibre 

 compost, over which a piece of coarse linen 

 is placed, and above this some finely chopped 

 sphagnum moss is firmly pressed. The seed 

 is lightly scattered over the surface, and in 

 a few weeks assumes a green appearance. 

 Shortly afterwards green leaves commence to 

 grow, when the seedlings are pricked off into 

 other pans of light fibrous material. At the 

 age of about twelve months they are 



sufficiently advanced to be placed singly in 

 small pots. These pots are narrow, but 

 somewhat deeper than those usually 

 employed. 



In the next house, which has a lower 

 temperature, the young seedlings spend 

 another year of their existence, being 

 subsequently re-potted and moved into a 

 third house. The re-potting and arrange- 

 ment IS continued as soon as the plants 

 require it, and until they reach a size when 

 flower-buds may be expected. At this state 

 they are potted in firmer material and are 

 treated in every way the same as other 

 established plants. 



Odontoglossums are somewhat different, 

 and can only be successfully raised when the 

 seed is sown on the surface of the compost 

 contained in a pot wherein a seedling plant 

 is growing. It is, perhaps, necessary to 

 mention that heat does not encourage the 

 germination of Odontoglossums. The best 

 results are obtained when the temperature 

 is equal to that of the ordinary Odonto- 

 glossum house. A very large number of 

 seedlings have already been raised, and it 

 will not be long before some of the best 

 crosses commence to flower. 



Messrs. Armstrong and Brown have 

 constructed their houses with every means 

 to save labour. On each side of the central 

 path is a brick wall which absorbs a large 

 amount of water, and thus assists in main- 

 taining the atmosphere in a humid condition. 

 The top ventilators are very small, but quite 

 large enough to permit sufficient change of 

 air without creating a draught and allowing 

 the moisture to escape. It is usually found 

 that damping the houses once in the morning 

 is quite sufficient to last throughout the day, 

 the reason being that very little moisture is 

 able to escape. This humid atmosphere is 

 not only suitable to the plants, but greatl)' 

 assists in preventing thrip from obtaining a 

 foothold in the house. There is also a saving 

 in the cost of fumigating material. 



The corridor proves an excellent growing 

 place for Cattleyas, when suspended from the 

 roof, and for Dendrobiums placed along the 

 wall. A remarkable plant of Cattleya Trianae 



