134 ORCHIDS. 



Dr. James Knight, of New York, built a small Orchid 

 house, bought some of Mr. Hogg's plants, and imported 

 an assortment from Messrs Low, by which means many 

 plants already in cultivation in this country were correctly 

 named. Dr. Knight was successful in Orchid culture, 

 and grew and flowered many in perfection, among others 

 the beautiful Dendrobium Devonianum, one of the loveliest 

 of Orchids, for the first time in this country. 



In 1856, Mr. Buchanan returning from Europe, brought 

 with him a good assortment of the best kinds then grown, 

 which formed the nucleus of his collection, to which he 

 has ever since been adding, and from which more Or- 

 chids have been distributed than from any establishment 

 in this country. 



A portion of the collection of Mr. Hogg passed into 

 the possession of Cornelius Van Voorst, of Jersey City, 

 and another portion was purchased by Jesse Paulmerre, of 

 the same city ; still another part went to Mr. Baker, of 

 New York, an amateur collector, who at one time had 

 some fine Orchids. The collection of Mr. Paulmerre was 

 soon merged in that of Mr. Van Voorst, so that about 

 1857 the houses of Mr. Van Voorst contained the finest 

 collection in the country. The plants were under the in- 

 telligent care of Mr. John Fleming, who brought to the 

 task rare knowledge and ardent love of floriculture, and 

 who developed some wonderful specimens. To see these 

 plants was worth a journey of many miles ; we shall never 

 forget one visit when one side of a house was a mass of 

 bloom of Cattleya Mossicz in its many varieties, and 

 another when in mid winter a mass of Calanthe vestita 

 grouped with Adiantum, formed a picture of unparalleled 

 beauty. 



