INTRODUCTION 



the labours of David Douglas not even forming an exception. 

 In the first parcel sent home were those two justly popular 

 plants, Dipladenia splendens and Hindsia violacea ; and from 

 these, down to the later arrivals, including the wonderful 

 Wellingtonia gigantea, what a mass of interest and beauty has 

 been added to the gardens of Great Britain ! 



" About three years after Mr. William Lobb left, his brother, 

 Thomas Lobb, who was then in the Exeter nursery, was sent 

 by Mr. Veitch to Java, and the success which attended his 

 efforts were not short of that of his brother. 



" In the first parcel he sent home was that magnificent 

 orchid Phalaenopsis grandiflora, not before known in England, 

 Vanda suavis, and numerous others. 



" To enumerate all the plants that these gentlemen have 

 discovered, or which Mr. Veitch has been the means of 

 introducing, would occupy more space than we can afford to 

 devote ; but we shall furnish a list of some of the most remark- 

 able of these introductions, showing to what an extent the 

 country is now indebted to the enterprise of Mr. Yeitch. 



" It may be worth recording that all these new introductions, 

 whether in the shape of seeds or living plants, are on their 

 arrival taken under Mr. Veitch's care. He sows all seeds 

 with his own hands, watches and tends them, and it is not 

 until they are beyond all danger that they are committed to 

 the management of others. 



" In April 1853 the old establishment of Messrs. Knight & 

 Perry, of the King's Road, Chelsea, being about to be relin- 

 quished, was offered to Messrs. Veitch & Son of Exeter, who 

 shortly afterwards became its possessors ; and now in this 

 wonderful establishment may be seen one of the most extensive 

 and valuable stocks of exotic plants which is to be met with 

 in any private establishment in this country. 



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