Marfih  29,  1900. 
•JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
261 
OdontO({lo88uni  elegans  Eastwood  Park  Variety. 
Amongst  the  most  attractive  Orchids  in  the  Drill  Hall  on  March 
13th  was  OdontogloBsum  elegans  Eastwood  Park  variety  (6g.  70), 
which  was  exhibited  by  Mr.  H.  Ballantine,  gardener  to  Baron  Schroder, 
The  Dell,  E^ham,  who  also  contributed  the  typical  O.  elegans 
for  comparison.  The  Orchid  Committee  showed  its  appreciation  by 
recommending  a  first-class  certificate.  The  flower  was  better  in  every 
respect  than  the  typical  form,  which,  as  is  well  known,  came  from  a 
cross  between  0.  Halli  and  0.  cirrhosum,  and  evidences  of  both  parents 
were  perceptible.  The  prevailing  colour  was  delicate  rose  suffused 
with  yellow,  and  there  were 
numerous  large  and  small 
chocolate  brown  spots.  This 
flower  w  IS  much  admired 
by  the  visitors  on  the  date 
named. 
Clare  Lawn. 
During  the  past  few 
years  the  popularity  of 
Orchids  has  made  very 
material  strides  as  well  in 
the  actual  number  of  col¬ 
lections  as  in  the  immense 
improvements  that  have 
been  made  in  existing  ones. 
Throughout  the  country 
there  appears  to  have  arisen 
amongst  enthusiasts  a  desire, 
not  perhaps  to  numerically 
increase  their  stocks,  but  to 
secure  a  higher  average  of 
-quality.  They  have  tried 
plant  after  plant,  and  every 
one  that  has  been  found 
wanting  has  had  to  go,  pos¬ 
sibly  to  the  home  of  somo 
younger  and  less  aspiring 
•cul  ivator.  That  this  fashion 
— if  such  it  may  be  termed 
— will  be  maintr.ined  is 
more  than  probable  ;  indeed, 
the  chances  are  decidedly 
in  favour  of  its  doing  so, 
for  Orchids  are  essentially 
flowers  that  grow  upon 
one.  The  more  Orchids  any¬ 
one  sees,  the  more  eager 
that  person  becomes  to  see 
others,  and  in  this  at  anv 
jate  familiarity  does  not 
breed  contempt,  but  rather 
increased  respect.  Then,  how  seldom  does  one  hear  of  a  gentleman 
giving  up  Orchid  cultivation  entirely.  Many  collections  have,  it  is 
true,  been  distributed  ;  but  it  has  almost  invariably  been  by  reason 
of  the  owner’s  death. 
^  The  love  for  Orchids  has  on  occasions  been  termed  a  “  craze,” 
and  if  the  term  be  accepted  then  it  is  a  craze  to  be  fostered,  for  it 
worships  at  the  shrine  of  some  of  the  loveliest  flowers  in  the  floral 
kingdom.  <  )ne  may  find  in  the  Orchid  family  every  type  of  beauty,  from 
'the  most  brill  ant  to  the  most  exquisitely  delicate ;  every  form  of  flower, 
some  quaint,  some  formal;  every  habit  of  plant,  including  those  that 
luxuriate  on  pieces  of  tree  stem  with  otWs  whose  wants  demand 
soil  of  some  particular  sort.  Who  would  not  glory  in  a  craze  ” 
which  every  year  brings  fresh  beauties  and  fresh  interests  ? 
Hybridists,  professional  and  amateur,  are  ever  at  their  labour  of 
love,  and  the  products  of  their  patient  skill  are  always  being  sought  ^ 
for.  Many  never  see  the  outside  of  the  establishment  in  which  i 
they  are  raised;  but  when  one  does  come  forth  that  is  of  superlative 
excellence  what  a  furore  it  creates,  and  how  eagerly  it  is  sought  by 
the  enthusiasts  to  enrieh  theii  collections.  But  this  is  somewhat  of 
a  digression. 
In  the  forefi'ont  of  those  whose  Orchids  have  advanced  by  leaps 
and  bounds  stands  Sir  Frederick  Wigan,  Bart.,  Clare  Lawn,  East 
iSheen.  Here  quality  has  ever  been  placed  before  quantity  ;  at  the  1 
same  time  a  considerable  number  of  houses  are  required  to  find 
accommodation  for  the  whole  collection.  Additions  are  made  with 
steady  persistence,  but  they  are  largely  of  something  “  out  of  the 
common.”  The  consequence’  of  this  spirit  of  maintenance  is  seen  in 
the  excellence  of  the  majority  of  the  flowers,  and,  failing  the  flowers, 
the  names  on  the  labels  tell  many  a  tale.  Numerous  are  the  hybrids 
that  have  gravitated  to  Clare  Lawn,  and  have  stayed  there  not  to 
degenerate  in  health,  but  to  grow  and  delight  their  owner  and  the 
grower,  Mr.  W.  H.  Young. 
For  some  considerable  time  the  writer  had  looked  forward  to 
this  second  visit  to  Clare  Lawn,  and  a  few  days  ago  an  opportunity 
was  promptly  seized.  It  is  practically  five  years  since  the  first 
journey  was  made,  and  much  pleasure  was  derived  from  it,  but 
more  came  from  that  of  last  week.  The  general  stock  shows  very 
evident  improvement  in  condition,  this  being  evidenced  in  the 
magnificent  leafage  of  almost  every  plant,  and  in  the  flowers  of  many 
of  them.  The  Phalsenopsis,  which  have  been  so  remarkably  well 
exhibited  at  the  Drill  Hall  this  season  by  Sir  F.  Wigan,  were 
practically  over,  but  their  condition  spoke  volumes  for  the  suitability 
of  the  structure  containing 
them  and  the  treatment  to 
which  they  are  subjected. 
They  are  not  plants  that 
thrive  in  every  place,  but 
at  Clare  Lawn  they  are  per¬ 
fectly  at  home.  The  leaves 
are  of  wonderful  substance, 
and  visitors  who  saw  the 
flowers  at  the  meetings  ueed 
no  assurance  of  their  excel¬ 
lence.  There  still  remained 
flowers  of  amabilis,  Boxalli, 
Sanderiana,  and  Luddeman- 
niana  with  one  or  two 
others. 
One  of  the  most  attrac¬ 
tive  houses  is  unquestionably 
the  rock  fernery,  where  on 
bold  projections  are  accom¬ 
modated  huge  Cymbidiums 
in  pots.  These  plants  amidst 
the  green  of  the' Ferns  form 
a  most  delightful  jiicture, 
and  one  which  would  elicit 
a  1  miration  from  everyone. 
There  are  several  varieties 
of  C.  Lowianum,  including 
concolor,  and  all  the  plants 
are  in  immense  pots.  The 
majority  of  them  are  pro¬ 
ducing  considerable  numbers 
of  spikes,  two  tha,t  were 
closely  observed  having  four¬ 
teen  and  twelve  respectively. 
The  flowers  are  not  yet  ex¬ 
panded,  but  one  may  easily 
print  a  mind  picture  of  their 
appearance  when  at  their 
best.  In  another  house  the 
handsome,  though  not  fre- 
quen'lv  seen,  Cymbidium 
Hookerianum  was  flowering,  with  C.  eburneo-Low  anum ;  while  m 
a  third  structure  the  chaste  C.  ebumeum  was  producing  its  fragrant 
flowers.  .  , 
As  in  most  Orchid  establishments  Odontoglossurns  are  fairly 
numerous,  but  they  do  not  form  a  feature  as_  is  frequently  the  case. 
Needless  to  say  there  are  many  species,  hybrids  and  varieties 
sented  from  which  are  obtained  spikes  of  variously  coloured  and 
formed  flowers.  The  [peculiarly  habited  Dendrobium  Kingianum  is 
flowering  profusely,  as  are  several  Masdevallias.  Growing  m  cool 
quarters*are  several  plants  of  Cypripedium  bellatulum.  This  handsome 
Orchid  is  usually  found  in  a  much  warmer  structure,  but  evidently 
appreciates  its  present  place.  The  growth  is  of  course  slower  than 
under  the  customary  method  of  culture,  but  the  leaves  are  clean  and 
of  great  stoutness.  Needless  to  say  the  plants  do  not  get  a 
amount  of  water  during  the  winter.  The  white  form,  C.  b.  a'hum, 
is  not  in  the  same  house,  but  is  given  a  position  in  one  of  decidedly 
higher  temperature.  .  ,  . 
A  singularly  beautiful  Orchid  that  one  finds  under  at  least  tvro 
names  is  Angraecum  modestum,  or,  as  it  is  fr  quently  designated, 
Sanderianum.  At  Clare  Lawn  both  names  are  represented,  and  under 
the  former  it  is  at  present  flowering.  The  pure  whitji  flowers  borne 
on  the  long  spike,  as  shown  in  the  ill  us  ration  (fig.  71)  on  page  Zbd, 
are  most  attractive,  especially  when  mentally  compared  to  some 
Fig.  70.— Odontoglossum  elegans  Eastwood  Park  variety. 
