Mr Chamberlain and His Orchids.

Otago Witness, Issue 2231, 3 December 1896, Page 8

Mr Chamberlain and His Orchids.

When Mr and Mrs Chamberlain are In London a box of the most beautiful orobid blooms 5s sent from their house at Highbury^ near Birmingham, every week for tbe decoration of

! their London hou3e in Princes.' Gate, In j addition, two flowers of the kinds bast adapted to the buttonhole are sent every day, and it is with one of the6e that the Liberal-Uniouist j leader usually makes his appearance ; in the Houee of Commons. Mr Chamberlain has taken every means, on the olher hand, of obtaining tbe iull eujoyment of the orchids when he is at home. ' One can go in and out all tho houses without j once encountering tbe open air. j The drawiDg room opens en to a lofty coDserj vatory, filled with the scent of many sweet- ! smelling flowers. • In the centre are some magnificent foliage plants, shadu.g a little fountain at tbe side of Carrara mat bio, one or two little rustic tables, and several mott seductive easy chairs. From the conservatory one passes through a grotto-like foliage house and so in 1 o the corridor of the orcbid houses. In this foliage bouse, by the way, there is a fine plant, believed to be the ouly one of its kind known, which has been named Antherium Cfaainberlaiuium. Ita root I was found 12 years ago among a cuasi of orchid bulbs which had been imported by Mr Cham- ! be j lain from South America. Fitted with the eltctric light, the conservatory and the corridor must, indeed, have a great charm for the dibner party or in the intervals of , the dance. i And the guests at H'ghbury have sometimes something me re than tbe satisfaction which the beauteous sight in the orobid houses »fford3 them ; they will often carry away with them a choice specimen of Mr Chamberlaiu'd zeal and success in tho culture of the orchid. — English Illustrated Magazine.