Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-20
BEAUTIES OF BLENHEIM.
Under the Sway of an American
Duchess.

From the Gardeners Chronicle
The Oxfordshire Agricultural society's an
nual show being held in Blenheim park sug-
gested the idea Of opening the orchid houses
to the inspection of the public on May % and
g. A charge was made for admission, with the
result that a handsome balance will be handed
over to the gardeners orphan fund, his grace
the duke of Marlborough having generously
acceded to the request of his gardener CMr. r.
Whillans) in this respect.
In the Melon house. 70 feet long, no fewer
than pit fruits were to be seen in various
stages. and some had been cut The variety ia
a seeding of Mr.. Williams, being a cross be-
tween Golden Perfection and Hero Of Lock-
inge. The fruits weigh from 4 to 5pounds
each, are globular, fairly well-netted yellow
skin, pale green flesh and sugary. The plants
were started at the end of February In an
adjoining house was a heavy crop of tomatoes
on plants sown at the end of the summer
In the large house usually devoted to Cattle
vas there were massed representatives of other
snowy genera. At one end was q pair of On
cidium Marsh allianum one having l05 and the
other III flowers. At the other end of the
house was fine specimen Leila purpurata
Blenheimensis, very dark form; and an
equally fine plant of L. purpurata was arranged
near it by way of contrast. Springing from out
Of the rockwork facing the door were some
stout spikes of Cymbldium Lowiannum, With
possible to note the details as to variety form,
or colors, but few notes were made of the
most conspicuous subjects met with in the
eighteen orchid houses.
OF Lellas there were fully fifty pieces of
purpurata, furnished with from six to ten
spikes each. The Dendrobes were verv
snowy section, the plants of D. Wardianum
carrying each about thirty flowers. and large
quantities of d. Jamesianum had fourteen
flowers ON single growth: about dozen speci-
nf l.,
One noble example of d. Thyrsiforum had
twenty-six spikes. and on plant of d. Bry-
merianum were twenty-eight flowers; besides
these there were many other well-fowered lots
The Cattleyas were numerous. OF C. Law
renceana about a hundred spikes were CARRYING
seven to twelve flowers each, and of C. Mem
delii $50 plants had each eight spike while
several specimens vet to flower showed eigh-
teen or twenty sheaths each. The Mossi4 set
was equally strong. with eight spikes to a
plant, one grand example being furnished with
forty-five sheaths; then G. Schrodere and c.
citrina were present, filling the air with their
odors A charming bit Of Cologne pandu-
rata had thrown up four spikes.
The Oncidiums included a lot of pretty
forms in flowers, but the crush of visitors pre-
vented close examination.
OF Odontoglossum cisrosmum there was q
batch Of fully 300 spikes, some with branching
spikes carry thirty flowers. o. Harryanum, o.
Roezlli, o. crispum, o. Pescatorei, o. Rossi,
and o. vexillarium were a show Of themselves;
and of the last named 120spikes were expanded,
and more than double that number yet to open.
OF o. crispum about 1000 spikes were pushing
up, 800 being already in flower.
OF Phalanopsis there were 1000 plants Of
the favorite species in fine condition. One nice
example OF Engr@cum Sanderianum had thirty
flowers on spike, and another piece Of A.
Leonis was well bloomed, each spike carrying
four or five flowers.
The greatest diversity of form and color ap-
peared in the Cypripediums, which made a
great and interesting section. Very noticeable
was grand piece, G. Selhgerum majus; c..
Lawrenceanum: bearing fully 100 spikes, were
open; the popular c. bellatum presented eight
flowers on plant; G. Barbatum superbleus
was represented by grand specimen bearing
forty flowers. and several examples Of G. levi-
gatum lad four flowers on q spike.