49 



provided a show of Orchids, at South Kensington, at which the 

 prizes amounted to 184. Thus, in one season within a period 

 of three weeks, 340 was offered for Orchids. The Royal 

 Botanic Society have also for many years provided substantial 

 prizes for Orchids, and some very beautiful groups have been ob- 

 tained at the summer shows. The Crystal Palace Company have 

 similarly supplied good prizes, and other societies throughout the 

 kingdom have contributed in varying degrees to the encourage- 

 ment of the plants. 



The total amount of prizes offered in 1886 is the largest yet 

 devoted to Orchids alone in one year. Birmingham, May I2th, 

 and i3th, 141 ; Royal Botanic Society, Regent's Park, May igth 

 and June gth, 100; Manchester, June nth to igth, 150; 

 York, June 23rd to 25th, 50 ; the Provincial Show of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society at Liverpool, 119, or 566, exclusive of 

 the prizes offered at many other smaller shows, which would 

 bring the total to considerably over 600. 



The greatest event of Orchid history was, however, the exhibi- 

 tion and conference at South Kensington, May I2th and I3th, 

 1885, which proved very successful. The exhibition itself com- 

 prised large numbers, many of which were arranged in the 

 conservatory, forming grand central and side banks. It was 

 especially remarkable for the numbers of species and varieties 

 represented, and in this respect has never been equalled. The 

 official report gives full particulars concerning this, and ample 

 notices were given in the horticultural periodicals at the time, 

 so it need not be referred to here farther than to give the names 

 of the principal exhibitors of groups, with the number of species, 

 varieties, and hybrids staged: Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart, M.P., 

 64 ; W. Lee, Esq., 72 ; Duke of Devonshire, 40 ; Baron Schroder, 

 a smaller number, but some of the best plants in the exhibition ; 



J. Southgate, Esq., 60. Other smaller collections came from 

 H. M. Pollett, Esq., A. H. Smee, Esq., J. T. Peacock, Esq., 

 J. C. Duke, Esq., De B. Crawshay, Esq., Royal Gardens, Kew ; 



W. E. Brymer, Esq., W. Cookson, Esq., F. A. Philbrick, Esq., 

 Q.C., and H. Little, Esq. The trade was well represented by 

 Messrs. B. S. Williams, Hugh Low and Co., Sander and Co., 

 Shuttleworth and Carder, J. Veitch and Sons, W. Bull, J. Cypher 

 and Son, and W. Thomson and Son. 



As nearly as could be determined from notes taken at the time, 

 the total number of genera represented was 56 ; of species, 

 varieties, and hybrids, 347. With only two or three exceptions 

 these were all in flower, and in the opinion of a noted continental 

 Orchidist, the whole of Europe, exclusive of Britain, could not 

 have produced such a number in flower at one time. The 

 principal genera were represented by distinct forms as follows 

 Odontoglossum, 66; Masdevallia, 48; Cypripedium, 40; Dendro- 



