HISTORY OF ORCHID CULTURE IN AMERICA. 131 



for their accommodation, and increased the collection 

 by importations. The first Orchids we ever saw were 

 exhibited by Mr. Lowell before the Massachusetts Hor- 

 ticultural Society, one being an immense Dendrobium 

 Calceolus, which was a magnificent specimen. 



About 1853, Mr. Lowell leasing his country residence, 

 the Orchids were sold to the tenant, by whom they were 

 neglected, and many perished. Some were sold, chiefly 

 Oncidiums, we believe, and still exist in the greenhouses 

 of the Misses Pratt, at Watertown. 



The balance of the collection, comprising the larger 

 plants, was about the year 1854 bought by Edward S. 

 Rand, and removed to his greenhouses in Dedham, 

 where a house was built for their reception. 



Mr. Rand was enthusiastic in the culture of these 

 plants, and added largely to the collection by importa- 

 tions from Messrs. Hugh Low & Son, of Clapton Nur- 

 series, London. 



About 1856, this collection probably contained the 

 finest specimen Orchids in the country ; among them we 

 especially remember the grand plant of Dendrobium Cal- 

 ceolus, four feet high and at least three feet in diameter ; 

 and a plant of Cattleya crispa, as large as a small wash- 

 tub. 



About 1865 Mr. Rand, selling his country estate, pre- 

 sented his large collection of stove and greenhouse plants, 

 including all the Orchids, to Harvard College ; and they 

 were removed to the greenhouses at the Cambridge Bo- 

 tanic Garden. 



The greenhouses at Cambridge were not suitable for 

 their cultivation, and they were crowded with other 

 plants ; the Orchids fared poorly, and most of the more 



