i8o 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[May, 1914. 



The Orchid Houses at Brackenhurst, Pembury. 



brickwork 

 composed 

 heing of 

 supports, 



aths. Houses of this description 

 a very uniform temperature, for 



and every means for mamtainmcr a moist and 

 genial atmosphere. The natural soil is used 

 as a floor. On each side of the path is arched 

 supporting the staging, which is 

 of two sections, the under one 

 red tiles resting on angle-iron 

 the upper one being made of 



wooden 

 maintain 



there is always sufficient heat stored up in the 

 internal brickwork to counteract any severe 

 fluctuation which might happen through the 

 fires getting low, or by reason of a sudden 

 change in the weather. 



Choice plants are so numerous that each 

 house requires a special article, but in this 

 brief report mention may be made of Odonto- 

 glossum illustri<:simum, figured on page 176 

 of this issue, the Brackenhurst variety of 

 Odontioda Madeline (Oda. Charlesworthii x 

 Odm. crispum), Odontioda Chantecleer, and 

 various forms of the older Odontiodas, many 

 of which are now specimen plants. With 

 Odontoglossums the variety is even greater, 

 and in each of the cool houses there are large 

 quantities of plants. Perhaps two of the 

 finest are Aquitania and Smithii. 



Cattleyas and their hybrids are strongly 

 represented, and have already made rapid 

 progress with the new bulbs. Cymbidiums 

 are also favourites, especially the insigne 

 hybrids, but there are several interesting- 



species which have recently been in flower. 

 Cypripediums occupy considerable space, but 

 as these are autumn and winter-flowering 

 plants a description will best be deferred until 

 that period. The rare Neomoorea irrorata, 

 Eulophia scripta, and other rarities are in 

 excellent health. 



In addition to the seven houses on the 

 south side of the corridor there is a span- 

 roofed house on the north side, which is used 

 for the cool-growing Masdevallias, and mainly 

 for retarding any plants that are required 

 for the important shows. This proves of 

 great value, and it is astonishing how long 

 some Orchids will keep in flower when so 

 treated. 



Vandas, Aerides, Anguloas and Phala^- 

 nopses are well represented, and their 

 interesting and very often beautiful flowers 

 are a source of attraction to the many visitors. 

 One house has been set apart for the raising 

 of seedlings, and a good start has been made, 

 some of the early sown Cattleya seed having 

 germinated with extraordinary results. 

 Under the splendid conditions existing in this 

 lioii^e the successful results will be numerous. 



Orchid Paintings.— The Royal Horticul- 

 tural Society's collection of paintings of 

 certificated Orchids now numbers over 2, 1 00. 



