"Uhe Ch essington Collection, 
Christchurch Road, Streatham Hill, S.W. 
THERE are few branches of horticulture 
in which so much variety of pleasure 
can be obtained as in the culture of 
Orchids. Many 
entliusiasts of this 
interesting pursuit 
have obtained an 
immense amount 
of pleasure by col- 
lectmg the many 
species of certain 
genera ; others by 
selecting only the 
finest varieties of 
their favourite 
species ; while not 
a few are keenly 
taken up with the 
fascinating work 
of producing 
hybrids. 
The early work 
accomplished i n 
this particular sec- 
t i o n was princi- 
pally that of 
crossing two 
species merely for 
the purpose of 
making a hybrid, 
and this was fre- 
quently a bad one. Experience has done 
much towards the formation of better results, 
and hybridists now work with a definite 
object in view, namely, that of producing 
either finer varieties of the early made 
hybrids or those which, by the correct 
blending of certain characters, are adjudged 
to be either distinct to, or more beautiful than 
any that have previously been seen. 
It is this production of beautiful hybrids 
Richd. G. Thwailes, Esq. 
which is studied at Chessington, where nine 
houses are completely filled with various 
hybrids in all their stages of cultivation. 
There are certainly 
a few species to be 
seen, but these are 
the very fine 
varieties which 
have been pur- 
chased to act as 
parents to the 
multitude of iminute 
specks of vegetable 
life which, when 
old enough, will 
display to a very 
large extent the 
good qualities of 
the flowers of their 
parents. No 
crosses are made 
without previous 
consultation and 
careful searching 
of records, the 
final decision rest- 
i n g with Mr. 
T h w a i t e s, who 
selects or purchases 
for the purposes in 
hand. 
The interesting part of actually making the 
crosses is entirely done by Mrs. Thwaites, and 
when the period of time requisite for the 
necessary completion of growth has elapsed 
she frequently has the pleasure of admiring 
the results of the work commenced several 
years ago. These results not unfrequently 
give disappointment, for the laws of nature, 
being firmly set, frequently step in and 
prevent the accomplishment of the desired 
