^he Jiuhurn House Collection, 



Southport. 



SOUTHPORT, 

 atmosphere, 

 ago, of one of 

 the finest collections 

 of Orchids in the 

 country. There are 

 still a few Orchidists 

 who remember the 

 many large specimens 

 which were then in 

 the houses of Mr. 

 R. P. Percival, who 

 is for ever commem- 

 orated in Cattleya 

 Percivaliana, named 

 in his honour b)- 

 Prof. Reichenbacli, 

 who, in descnbin;^- 

 the species, said 

 " This Cattleya may 

 prove a source ol 

 great enjoyment." 

 Although this collec- 



tion has long since 



with its beautiful bright 

 could boast, many years 



been dispersed, it is 

 gratifying to know 

 that Southport has, 

 at the present time, 

 an even better collec- 

 tion in the possession 

 of J. J. Holden, Esq., 

 and that Reichen- 

 bach's prediction, 

 true as it was of the 



species, is equally applicable, for " this 

 collection proves a source of great enjoyment 

 to the owner." 



The Orchid houses are situated almost on 

 a level and within a very short distance from 



the sea ; in fact, they are built on the actual 

 sand of the shore. The saline atmosphere 

 seems beneficial to 

 the Orchids, yet great 

 difficulty is experi- 

 enced in growing 

 roses and other grar- 

 den plants, although 

 the soil in which 

 they are planted has 

 all been brought from 

 a place many miles 

 inland. 



The Cattleya house 

 contains a large 

 amount of hot-water 

 piping, one length of 

 which passes through 

 the rain-water tank 

 and thus keeps the 

 water in a very suit- 

 able condition for 

 use ; the atmosphere 

 is always in a very 

 buoyant and fit state. 

 The collection of 

 Cattleyas contains 

 nearly two hundred 

 " albinos," many of 

 great rarity and 

 beauty. During the 

 last few weeks some 

 of the best have been 

 /. y. Holden, Esq. flower, and of 



these mention must be made of C. Harrison- 

 iana alba, \v\\h. eight flowers, C. labiata alba, 

 a fine form having but little of the usual 

 orange colour in the throat, C. Warneri alba, 

 of which there are two good plants, C. labiata 



