472 
May  21,  1896 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
could  be  with  truth  applied.  But  with  these  we  have  nothing  now 
to  do,  save  to  hope  that  they  wil  1  continue  to  come  to  delight  all 
who  see  them  by  the  many  excellent  qualities  they  possess,  for 
they  are  sure  to  be  widely  welcomed.  Just  now  it  is  with  Chelsea 
and  its  plants,  tended  by  Mr.  Harris,  that  we  would  deal,  and  in 
doing  so  refer  to  a  few  of  those  in  flower.  A  few  is  said  advisedly, 
as  it  would  be  impossible  to  note  even  a  tithe  of  the  whole.  Those 
who  are  not  contented,  and  indeed  those  who  are,  with  these  notes, 
should  go  to  Veitch’s  and  see  the  Orchids  and  many  other  things 
for  themselves,  and  they  will  come  away  with  pleasure  at  having 
seen  them,  but  filled  with  regret  at  having  to  leave  them. 
Everyone  knows  the  entrance  to  the  Orchid  department  at 
the  left  of  the  Long  Walk.  Odontoglossums  greet  us  as  we  enter. 
Not  a  few  plants,  but  hundreds,  and  many  of  them  carrying  spikes 
of  flowers  fully  expanded,  while  others  are  yet  in  the  bud  state, 
and  will  assist  in  prolonging  the  display.  The  plants  are  strong 
and  clean,  the  flowers  being  of  good  size,  shape,  and  colour.  The 
large  majority  are  specimens  of  the  popular  and  beautiful 
O.  crispum,  none  named,  but  several,  as  compared  with  those 
sometimes  exhibited  under  name,  well  worthy  of  that  distinction. 
Of  course,  other  sections  of  the  family  are  represented,  and  a 
plant  of  O.  (Miltonia)  vexillarium  is  very  conspicuous.  The 
flower  is  of  good  size  and  exceptional  substance,  the  upper  portion 
being  bright  rose,  and  the  lower  pure  white,  with  the  exception  of 
a  small  yellow  patch  in  the  centre,  This  variety  is  named 
0.  v.  leucoglossum. 
At  all  seasons  of  the  year  Cypripediums  are  a  feature  here,  but 
the  variety  and  quality  could  scarcely  be  better  than  at  the  present 
moment.  The  charming  flowers,  with  the  handsome  leafage,  are 
alone  worthy  a  long  journey  to  see.  The  striking  Rothschildianum 
at  once  commands  attention,  as  does  the  grand  Harrisianum 
superbum,  Then  there  are  niveum,  with  its  chastely  beautiful 
slippers  ;  Morganite,  Eurylochus,  resulting  from  a  cross  between 
hirsutissiraum  and  ciliare  ;  Creon,  of  which  the  illustration  (fig.  77, 
page  467)  represents  a  bloom  ;  and  a  handsome  form  called  Drurio- 
Hookeras,  of  which  the  name  denotes  the  parentage,  with  many 
others.  In  the  same  structure  may  be  seen  the  not  largely  grown 
Colax  jugosus,  the  charming  Anguloa  uniflora  Turneri,  the  chaste 
A.  u.  T.  alba,  and  the  attractive  Dendrobium  albo-sanguineum. 
The  square  structure  leauing  from  the  long  range  to  the  large 
Cattleya  house  is  always  refreshingly  beautiful  with  its  rocks, 
its  Ferns,  and  last,  but  not  least,  its  Orchids.  Here  are  congre¬ 
gated  several  splendid  examples  of  culture,  many  of  them  of 
considerable  size,  and  all  of  much  beauty.  Great  sprays  of 
Oacidium  Marshallianum  have  a  graceful  and  pleasing  effect,  which 
is  heightened  by  the  diversity  lent  by  the  several  Cymbidiums. 
Hanging  in  a  prominent  position  is  a  plant  of  Dendrobium 
obscurum.  Why  it  should  have  this  name  is  not  certain,  but  may 
be  on  account  of  the  lack  of  knowledge  regarding  the  parentage — 
at  any  rate,  there  is  nothing  obscure  about  the  flowers.  These  are 
borne  in  long  racemes,  much  after  the  style  of  D.  thyrsiflorum, 
but  the  individual  blooms  are  not  produced  quite  so  closely 
together.  In  colour  the  resemblance  is  again  apparent,  for  the 
sepals  and  petals  are  pure  white,  while  the  lip  is  a  clear  soft 
yellow.  The  flower  is  more  pleasing  than  that  of  D.  thyrsiflorum, 
though  it  is  comparatively  safe  to  surmise  this  is  one  of  the  parents. 
Glorious  indeed  is  the  display  of  Cattleyas  in  their  roomy  abode, 
in  which  is  found  space  for  many  hundreds  of  plants.  Health  and 
strength  are  manifest  in  almost  every  specimen,  and  their  condition 
justifies  the  pride  with  which  they  are  looked  on  by  Mr.  Harris  as 
he  acts  as  our  conductor.  There  are  divergencies  everywhere  in 
colour,  in  size,  in  shape,  and  in  substance,  but  quality  is  good  in  all. 
Immediately  facing  the  entrance  is  a  noble  bank  of  C.  Schroderee, 
comprising  several  plants  of  which  the  most  beautiful  is  C.  S. 
cocrulescens.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  of  the  normal  rosy  pink 
colour,  but  the  lip  has  a  peculiar  bluish  tinge  that  accounts  for  the 
varietal  name.  The  margin  of  this  organ  is  white,  while  the  throat 
is  pure  yellow.  More  chaste,  and  possibly  to  some  tastes  more 
beautiful,  is  C.  S.  alba,  of  which  a  fine  form  is  in  bloom.  Besides 
these  there  are  C.  Lawrenceana,  Schilleriana,  intermedia,  Skinneri, 
citrina,  and  Mendeli  in  considerable  numbers,  but  which  must  be 
seen  to  be  appreciated.  _ 
Grown  with  the  aforementioned  are  the  Laelias,  of  which  the 
Chelsea  collection  is  very  complete.  The  references  made  regarding 
the  condition  of  the  Cattleyas  in  the  preceding  paragraph  are 
equally  applicable  to  the  Ljelias,  so  they  need  not  now  be  repeated. 
Of  those  in  bloom  the  plants  of  Laclia  purpurata  are  producing  the 
most  imposing  display  by  reason  of  the  exceptional  quality  and 
richness  of  colouration  in  the  lip  of  several  of  the  flowers.  The 
sepals  and  petals,  too,  are  very  substantial,  and  stand  conspicuously 
behind  the  lip.  L.  elegans  Schilleriana  is  plainly  perceptible,  as 
are  the  many  specimens  of  L.  latona.  The  peculiar  colour  of  the 
elegant  flowers  of  this  Lselia  are  surprisingly  effective  in  this  great 
house,  and  are  worthy  ot  close  attention  by  all  growers.  With 
these  we  must  pass  from  the  Lfelias  to  one  or  two  others,  and  then 
draw  to  a  close. 
Besides  those  Orchids  that  have  already  been  mentioned,  there 
are,  of  course,  many  others,  for  as  a  matter  of  fact  almost  all  known 
kinds  are  represented  to  a  greater  or  a  lesser  extent  in  the  Chelsea 
emporium.  Reference  has,  however,  been  made  to  those  only  that 
particularly  arrested  the  writer’s  attention  on  the  occasion  of  a 
recent  visit,  and  they  were  those  in  flower  of  course.  But  as 
evidence  of  splendid  culture,  one  should  see  the  Cattleya  TriaDaS, 
the  Dendrobiums  in  many  kinds  and  varieties,  the  Phalacnopsis, 
the  Vandas,  the  Aerides,  the  Angrtecums,  and  others.  There  one 
may  see  perfect  leaves  or  bulbs  or  both  in  which  is  so  apparent 
that  goal  for  which  every  Orchid  grower  so  incessantly  works — 
good  health.  It  is,  as  everyone  knows,  of  paramount  importance, 
and  here  at  any  rate  it  is  secured. 
It  is  a  matter  for  regret  that  no  Orchids  from  this  establishment 
are  staged  at  the  Temple  show,  for  despite  the  quality  and  quantity 
that  are  there,  we  can  ill  afford  to  lose  the  assiitance  of  Messrs. 
J.  Veitch  &  Sons  from  any  show,  much  more  from  this,  the  greatest 
of  the  year.  Many  people  will  in  all  probability,  however,  spare  an 
hour  or  two  from  the  Temp'e  to  go  to  Chelsea,  and  one  is  perfectly 
safe  in  saying  that  the  time  there  spent  will  be  amply  repaid. 
Glebelands. 
Having  seen  the  nurseryman’s  Orchids  it  is  but  fair  now  to 
look  at  an  amateur’s  plants,  and  those  of  J.  Gurney  Fowler,  Esq., 
Glebelands,  South  Woodford,  are  thoroughly  deserving  of  a  few 
lines  in  the  Journal  of ' Horticulture.  The  grower  here  is  Mr. 
J.  Davis,  and  from  the  prevailing  conditions  it  may  readily  be  seen 
that  he  is  a  first-rate  cultivator.  At  almost  every  meeting  both 
the  owner  and  the  grower  with  some  Orchids  may  be  seen  at  the 
Drill  Hall,  and  it  is  very  seldom  that  they  return  without  having 
secured  some  recognition  from  the  Orchid  Committee.  Generally 
the  exhibit  takes  the  form  of  a  group,  and  visitors  can  then  see  that 
the  grower  is  almost  somewhat  of  an  artist,  for  his  arrangements 
are  generally  done  in  a  singularly  harmonious  manner.  Sometimes, 
as  on  a  recent  day,  only  one  plant  is  brought  ;  but  then  it  need  not 
be  said  it  is  a  good  one.  On  the  occasion  hinted  at  the  plant  was 
one  of  Dendrobium  thyrsiflorum  carrying  thirty  trusses  of  perfect 
flowers. 
At  Glebelands  nine  houses  of  various  sizes  and  styles  of  build¬ 
ing  are  required  to  accommodate  all  the  Orchids,  and  they  do  not 
afford  by  any  means  too  much  space.  Indeed,  if  the  growth  of 
the  collection  continues  at  its  present  rate  more  space  will  soon 
have  to  be  sought  amongst  the  many  other  plant  and  fruit  houses 
on  the  estate.  Almost  all  the  best  known  families  of  Orchils  are 
represented  in  this  collection,  and  the  majority  of  them  evidently 
find  their  surroundings  thoroughly  congenial.  Not  that  special 
structures  have  been  erected  for  the  plants,  on  the  contrary,  they 
are  placed  in  old  houses,  the  skill  of  the  grower  having  to  make  up 
for  any  little  deficiencies  in  this  respect.  Some  new  span-roofed 
houses  were  erected  a  short  while  back,  and  are  quickly  becoming 
fully  occupied  with  Orchids,  though  other  foliage  and  flowering 
plants  are  also  cultivated. _ 
Comparatively  speaking,  this  collection  of  Orchids  is  yet  in  its 
infancy,  only  having  been  instituted  between  seven  and  eight  years 
ago,  and  it  is  now  undoubtedly  highly  creditable  to  all  concerned. 
With  the  owner’s  enthusiasm  and  interest  the  number  and  quality 
of  the  plants  have  made  equal  progress,  and  will,  it  is  trusted, 
continue  in  a  progressive  state.  Glebelands  is  an  ideal  suburban 
home  within  a  few  minutes’  run  by  train  of  Liverpool  Street,  and, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  London’s  fogs  must  reach  Woodford, 
the  Orchids  grow  remarkably  well.  Only  a  short  time  was  at  dis¬ 
posal  when  this  visit  was  made  a  week  ago,  but  it  sufficed  for  a 
glance  through  all  the  houses  and  the  noting  of  a  few  flowers  of 
more  than  ordinary  merit,  and  to  these  attention  will  now  for  a 
brief  space  be  drawn.  ______ 
To  the  Cypripediums  shall  be  accorded  the  premier  position  in 
these  notes,  not  because  they  are  the  best  or  the  most  extensively 
giown,  but  for  the  reason  that  they  occupied  the  first  structure  we 
entered.  Cypripedium  bellatulum  album  was,  it  is  perhaps  need¬ 
less  to  state,  the  one  at  the  head  of  the  notes,  followed  by  the  type 
as  represented  by  a  very  beautifully  marked  form,  and  such  as  the 
