INTRODUCTION 



it eventually one of the first nurseries of the day. All this 

 time he was acquiring the mastery over the mysteries of the 

 nursery trade, in which, first (since 1838) as a partner in the 

 firm of James Veitch & Son, and subsequently, on the death of 

 his father, as the head of that of James Veitch & Sons, he was 

 destined to raise himself to one of the very foremost positions. 

 This prominent place amongst his compeers was won not less 

 by his untiring Zealand energy, his keen perception, his clear- 

 headed business habits, and his great personal influence, than 

 by his thorough practical acquaintance with all professional 

 details. It was on his return to Exeter from Tooting that, 



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taking with him a collection of the Orchid gems of those days, 

 he first started in the cultivation of those favourite plants ; a 

 taste which he always cultivated with the greatest possible 

 zest, and which came in time to be ministered to by the 

 introductions of his own collectors, and by his intimate personal 

 friendship with men like Mr. G. Ure-Skinner and Colonel 

 Benson, who had made acquaintance with orchids in their 

 native homes. It should here be stated that Messrs. Rollisson, 

 with whom young Veitch had been placed for the purpose of 

 acquiring a knowledge of his business, declined to receive any 

 adequate remuneration for the benefits conferred by them on 

 their pupil ; and the only method of acknowledgment open 

 to the father of the subject of our notice was to commission 

 the son to purchase orchids from the Messrs. Rollisson. These 

 orchids became the nucleus of the collection for which Messrs. 

 Veitch are now, and have for so long been renowned. It may 

 be interesting to mention, as an instance of versatility, that 

 about the year 1839 Mr. Veitch entered with great spirit upon 

 the growth of Dahlias for competition, the Exeter Dahlia 

 Shows, open to all England, furnishing at that period one of the 

 most tempting arenas for the display of horticultural prowess. 



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