^34 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[July, 1914. 



plants of O. grande, O. cordatum, O. Rossii, 

 and, in tact, a general collection of cool-house 

 species. Masdevallias are extensively culti- 

 vated, tfieir quaint flowers always being of 

 interest. A pleasing hybrid is M. McVittias, 

 raised by Mr. Thompson in 1 892, and named 

 m honour of his married daughter. 



One of the oldest houses is used for the 

 safe keeping of a number of small plants 

 which through one cause or another are not 

 sufficiently strong to flower. These are being 

 carefully nursed, and many will soon be up to 

 their original standard of vigour. The true 

 old Pacho type of Odontoglossum crispum is 

 now very scarce, hence the need of 

 propagating the several fine varieties m this 

 collection. The old bulbs are carefully severed 

 and inserted in small pots until growth 

 recommences, when they are placed m fresh 

 compost and treated like other plants. 



With such a large collection as that at 

 Walton Grange it is barely possible to 

 mention more than a very few of the choice 

 forms of species and hybrids, and, moreover, 

 no amount of writing could do them justice. 

 Frequently the smallest diversion from the 

 typical characters is sufficient to make the 

 variety one of great value, and to fully 

 appreciate the plant it must be seen in flower. 

 As soon as one of these distinctive forms 

 appears m bloom it never fails to receive the 

 admiration of its owner, and although forty 

 or more years may seem to some amateurs a 

 long period to be occupied in the same subject 

 it has been one of continual pleasure to Mr. 

 Thompson, and he still looks forward to the 

 first opening flower of a new hybrid with the 

 same eagerness as when he commenced the 

 hobby of Orchid culture nearly half a century 

 ago. 



The collection of paintings is well worthy 

 of inspection, for it contains many that were 

 executed when hybridisation was in its 

 infancy, as well as a large number of 

 present-day results. 



During the last few years the care of the 

 plants has been in the hands of that well- 

 known cultivator Mr. J. Howes, and the able 

 manner in which he is dealing with the 

 collection is ample proof of his ability. 



CHELSEA AWARDS. 



THE Chelsea awards have not given 

 general satisfaction, and judging by 

 the manner m which several trade 

 exhibitors have expressed their discontent 

 the present is an opportune occasion for a 

 consideration of the prizes and the manner in 

 winch they are awarded. 



It IS hardly necessary to mention that no 

 one stages a group of plants merely for the 

 intrinsic value of the prize offered, which 

 rarely amounts to more than two or three 

 pounds. The whole ambition of the exhibitor 

 IS to win a Gold Medal, and with it all 

 that commercial prestige which adds so 

 considerably to success m business life. It 

 matters little what the medal costs, or whether 

 it even exists beyond the cardboard imitation 

 presented to the exhibitor on the day of the 

 show. The reputation of securing a Gold 

 Medal is considerable ; it is the ambition of 

 one and all to secure such an honour. 



It is apparent to everyone that the actual 

 commercial reputation attached to receiving 

 a Gold Medal is m accordance with the 

 importance of its origin. The awarding of a 

 Gold Medal by a small local horticultural 

 society has an infinitely smaller value than a 

 similar award given by the Royal Horticul- 

 tural Society. Each society has a more or 

 less recognised standard attached to its 

 awards, and long-established practise alone 

 defines the real value of its prizes. The 

 R.H.S. Gold Medal may be considered the 

 highest horticultural award, and what is of 

 perhaps greater importance, by reason of the 

 careful manner in which it is bestowed, it is 

 always closely associated with a certain 

 definite and recognised standard of merit. 



Now, considering the Chelsea Show, there 

 was more than one group of considerable 

 dimension and great excellence. In fact, if 

 only one-half of a certain exhibitor's plants 

 were staged at a R.H.S. fortnightly meeting 

 a Gold Medal would undoubtedly be granted, 

 yet this is all the recompense he received at 

 Chelsea. On the recognised standard of the 

 R.H.S. Gold Medal he should at least have 

 obtained a reward equal to two Gold Medals. 



