JOHN GOULD VEITCH. 



COLLECTOR IN JAPAN, SOUTH SEA ISLANDS, AND AUSTRALIA. 



18601870. 



JOHN GOULD VEITCH was born at Exeter in 1839. He was at 

 an early age initiated in the working of the nursery business, 

 and took an active part in the management of the Veitchian 

 establishment after its removal to Chelsea in 1853, at that 

 time rapidly acquiring prestige through the introduction of 

 new plants, a prestige it was determined to maintain, and if 

 possible enhance. 



His majority scarcely attained, an opportunity offered by 

 the opening of the ports of Japan to foreigners, and in 

 April 1860 John Gould Veitch started on a voyage to the 

 Far East, arriving at Nagasaki in the July following. 



He remained in Japan about a year, collecting plants, 

 many previously unknown in British gardens. 



Attached to the suite of Sir Rutherford Alcock, the 

 British Envoy to Japan, he was enabled to make the ascent 

 of Fujiyama, and was one of the first Europeans to reach 

 the summit of the " sacred mountain." 



After despatching the collections to Europe he proceeded 

 to the Philippine Islands on a similar mission, but with 

 the especial object of obtaining plants of various species 

 of Phalaenopsis, natives of the islands, at that period 



49 



