there are several good collections, also at Streatham, where 

 J. Southgate, Esq., has a number of houses devoted to well- 

 grown plants, under the charge of Mr. Salter ; at Bickley, H. M. 

 Pollett, Esq., an assortment of choice species and varieties ; 

 A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Wallington, has a large number 

 of species and varieties under the care of Mr. Cummins, while 

 many more Orchidists in the Metropolitan district will be found 

 enumerated in the list on another page. In the provinces, some 

 of the most noted Orchid-lovers are the Right Hon. J. Chamber- 

 lain, M.P., and C. Winn, Esq., Birmingham ; G. Hardy, Esq., 

 Timperley, Cheshire ; Dr. R. F. Ainsworth, Lower Broughton ; 

 and Enoch Harvey, Esq., Riversdale Road, Aigburth, Liverpool. 

 In Scotland, Dr. A. Paterson, Bridge of Allan, has, during a long 

 period, worked most carefully amongst the Orchids, and has 

 inspired many others with some of his own enthusiasm. Those 

 here named, together with others in the list, have from two or 

 three to a dozen or more houses devoted to Orchids, the number 

 of which in the larger collections, like those at Burford Lodge, 

 Downside, and the Dell, amount to many thousands. 



Trade collections are far more abundant than they were earlier 

 in the century, for nearly every nurseryman now includes some of 

 these plants in his stock. There are, however, several who hava 

 made a speciality of Orchids, and who grow enormous numbers, 

 occupying extensive ranges of twenty houses or more, varying 

 in size up to 150 feet in length. The leading collections are the 

 following: Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea; Mr. B. S. Wil- 

 liams, Upper Holloway ; Mr. W. Bull, Chelsea ; Messrs. H. Low 

 and Co., Upper Clapton ; Messrs. J. Laing and Son, Forest Hill; 

 Messrs. Heath and Son and J. Cypher and Son, Cheltenham ; 

 Messrs. J. Backhouse and Son, York ; Messrs. Sander and Co., 

 St. Albans ; and in Scotland, Messrs. W. Thomson and Son, 

 Clovenfords ; and Ireland and Thomson, Edinburgh. 



The horticultural periodicals and Mr. B. S. Williams' beautiful 

 monthly publication, " The Orchid Album," which commenced 

 its career in 1881, have served to materially increase the public 

 interest in Orchids. The valuable prizes offered at horticultural 

 exhibitions afford another means of extending their popularity. 

 In this respect the Manchester Horticultural Society has taken 

 an important part of recent years, for the most liberal prizes 

 have been offered there, rendering the Whitsuntide shows in tha 

 Botanic Gardens at Old Trafford, under the management of Mr. 

 Bruce Findlay, some of the most successful in the kingdom. 

 Magnificent displays of Orchids are annually provided there, and 

 at no other place have such numbers of good specimens been 

 staged in competition. No less than 156 are offered in prizes 

 for Orchids alone, and until 1885 th* s had never been surpassed; 

 but on June gth of that year, the Royal Horticultural Society 



