J. HENRY CHESTERTON. 

 COLLECTOR IN SOUTH AMERICA. 

 18701878. 



VERY little is known of the early life of this traveller, who 

 was afterwards such a very successful orchid-collector over a 

 wide area in South America. 



When this collector first came to notice he was serving as 

 valet to a gentleman who travelled much in foreign lands, and 

 as Chesterton wished to bring home with him some of the floral 

 treasures that he met with during his travels, he applied to 

 Messrs. Veitch for information as to the best means of packing. 



Such information and advice as was likely to prove useful 

 was readily given, and opportunities offered him of seeing 

 plants packed for long journeys, and of examining those newly 

 imported, by which he was enabled to form an idea of the 

 great care required to safely convey living plants thousands 

 of miles by sea and through various climates and greatly 

 varying temperatures. 



Nothing more was heard of Chesterton for some time, until, 

 on arriving in England from a visit to South America, he 

 came to Chelsea with a collection of Orchids, so carefully 

 packed and well looked after, that they arrived in the best 

 possible condition. 



In return for the information given, he made Messrs. 

 Veitch the first offer of purchase, which was accepted, 

 and the collection passed into our hands. Subsequently he 



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