TUNBRIDGE WELLS, so historic with 
its Pantiles and Royal connections of 
the past, has an attractive spot at 
Broadlands, Camden Park, the residence of 
Ernest R. Ash- 
ton, Esq., who 
for more than 
fifteen years 
has been inter- 
ested in Orchid 
culture. 
In his jour- 
neys to far dis- 
tant countries 
Mr. Ashton has 
seen many of 
the native 
homes of 
Orchids, a n d 
has not failed 
to note the con- 
ditions under 
which they 
thrive, as well 
as securing 
specimens for 
his present col- 
lection. When 
visiting Jamaica 
he secured the 
curious Brassia 
maculata and the crimson flowering Brough- 
tonia sanguinea, while at Grenada the pretty 
Diacrium bicornutum was collected. Port of 
Spain, Trinidad, was also visited, and 
here Mr. Ashton found a superior type of 
Oncidium Papilio, a very fine specimen of 
which was being cultivated by one of the 
natives in his own garden. No amount of 
Ernest R. Ashton, Esq. 
money would induce the owner to part with 
his dearly loved treasure, although for a small 
sum, equal to twopence in English money, 
one of the natives would climb up a tall tree 
and obtain 
some plants. A 
few of these 
were purchased 
and are now 
growing freely 
in the Broad- 
lands collec- 
tion. Mr. Ash- 
ton has also 
journeyed to 
Australia, but 
the somewhat 
u n i n t eresting 
nature of the 
Orchids there 
and the long 
homeward voy- 
age did not 
encourage him 
to secure any 
plants. 
The up-to- 
date construc- 
tion of the 
houses is of 
much interest 
to Orchid growers. In order to obtain as 
much internal air space as possible the ground 
is excavated to the depth of from 12 to 
18 inches below the lattice path and side 
staging. Along each side of the central path 
a wall of porous bricks is constructed to 
support the staging and witli the chief object 
of maintaining a regular temperature and 
