WORLDS FINEST FLOWER SHOW

Evening Star, Issue 14413, 8 July 1910, Page 7

WORLDS FINEST FLOWER SHOW

ORCHIDS WORTH MORE THAN THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD.

£75,000 COLLECTION

[BY Otil LUJY CORRIiSI’ONDISKT.] LONDON, May 27. Tho Temple Flower Show is not tho largest show of its kind, but it deservedly enjoys the distinction of being the finest. This year there is no falling oif from the usual lotty standard, and the old Temple Gardens—lent every year to tho Royal Horticultural Society for tills show—looked a very fairyland of the loveliest flowers many of ns have ever seen. One great difference to ho noted, however, was that all the ladies present were, of course, in gowns of sombre black, and in a concourse of thousands tho effect of general mourning, surrounded as it was by such prodigality of exquisite color, was extraordinary- The absence of royalty also marked’a difference. Queen Alexandra has always taken a keen interest in the Temple Flower Show, as have also many members of her family. Cut flowers were displayed in large marquees, as were also roses, clematis, lilies, gladioli, heliotrope, carnations, orchids, fenis, hyacinths, etc., while rock gardens and borders filled every available space out of doors, and tliero wore some fine shrubberies. When one learns tli.it tho whole show is prepared in something like four days, the magnificent result appears almost a miracle, for there was nowhere to be seen any sign of slip-shod methods or unfinished work. Cndonbtedly what everyone, found the most interesting feature of this year’s exhibition was —A Japanese Flower Garden. — As tho visitor strolls about this dainty corner of Japan, set- down in the j centre of the London legal world, it is I not easy to remember that hustling matter-of-fact Elect street is but across the way, and that nearer still, fussy, strident-voiced tugs are heading up tho Thames. Practically ,the whole of the garden has been imported from the Land of the CheiT.v Blossom by an Eng- : lish firm, who have also reconstructed it. The entrance is in the stylo of I a Tokio tea house, and is flanked by lino specimens of the Japanese ” thuja ”—tho little squat trees that are still young while yet nearing their hundredth year. Hero is at least one | 250 years old, and appears good for another century or two. In the centre |of the garden glistens a lakelet inhabited by what are the largest gold fish—or, more correctly, golden orf ’’ —ever brought into this country from the island kingdom, round, bulgy little creatures like well-developed salmon youngsters. They measure fifteen inches in length, un advantage of two inches over the previous record. Japanese ducks skim graeefuilly over the water. The lakelet is spanned by a little wooden bridge, and in the centre and on tho hanks stand massive granite ‘■funeral lanterns” brought from Japanese temples. In these strangelooking ornaments—totally nnsuited to a London drawing room, weighing as they do considerably over a ton —tho almond-eyed people burn candles to the memory of their departed. Pleasantly there falls upon tho ear tho sound of music coming mysteriously from tho trees overhead, and then' one sees strips of painted glass, which in the breeze tinkle against each other, emitting notes like those of tho dulcimer. It was amusing to watch the faces of the visitors to this garden as the dainty, inusic fell on their ears for the first time. Three Japanese tortoises—about a foot in length and cumbersome, stupid-looking creatures —had a tiny grass playground to themselves, and as I stood watching them, a gardener picked them up, one by one, and lowered thorn into tho pond, where they lay under water for about five minutes, ostensibly drinking. They were then lifted out, inconsiderately held head downwards in case they had imbibed too freely, for a second or two, j then packed in a box for tho night. This is the first occasion on which the show has included a Japanese flower garden.

—Among the Orchids.—

The display of orchids, roses, carnations, and tulips was in particular magnificent, and a new orchid which flowered for the first time this year was exhibited. Appropriately it had been named “King Georgo V.” The now-coiner in the orchid world is an Odontoglossurn crispurn, but differs from the more common varieties in that instead of having little or no color the cultivators have succeeded by hybridisation in introducing deep crimson blotches on the petals and sepals. The “lip” is golden yellow crested. The extraordinary results that can be achieved by orchid growers are demonstrated by another specimen included in the same display. In other circumstances anyone who beheld this orchid would of a certainty mistake it for a butterfly. Perched on the top of a tall, slender, leafless stem, it is quite lifelike, it is a golden yellow butterfly with outstretched wings, with “horns” projecting as if in the very act of “ flitting from flower to flower,” and even tiro tiny specks of eyes are clearly indicated. Connoisseurs declare it to bo a triumph. So remarkable is the huge collection of orchids that an authority hag estimated its value at no loss a-sum than £75,000, some of the single plants being worth £SOO, and scores of then being priced at £SO each. A very rarspecimen was found by an orchid-hun ter in Colombia, and has seldom, i' ever before, been seen in England. T( the initiated it is known as the whit' cattleytc. The petals are a pure, glossy white, the only touch of colo? being a delicate orange tint in the “throat.” A curious orchid is one which appears to suffer from the

fashionable complaint of neurasthenia. If is “ all nerves.” Its delicate spikes quiver violently even as one approaches it. The popular name for it, in fact, is f< the trembling orchid.”