134 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCfETr. 



were sold from this establishment, many of them particularly fine 

 varieties, which are difficult to duplicate now. Mr. Such's green- 

 houses "vvere resorted to b}' all orchid growers. They were doubly 

 attractive because always neat and clean ; and the dispersion of his 

 collection by auction about three years ago was an era among 

 orchidists. There were over four thousand five hundred plants 

 disposed of, and over twelve thousand dollars was realized at the 

 sale. 



Mr. Menand, at Albany, N. Y., has about four hundred and fifty 

 species in his collection, where they are associated with other 

 plants, such as camellias, cacti, etc., while many are grown in the 

 open air in summer. He grows some kinds to better advantage 

 than almost any other cultivator in this country. A. F. (vhat- 

 field, of Albau}', maintained a trade collection for j'ears, and 

 imported and disposed of many fine plants ; but I do not know 

 whether he still keeps it up to any extent. William Matthews, 

 of Utica, N. Y., is getting together a good trade collection. 



The largest collection of orchids kept for sale purposes is prob- 

 ably that of A. Brackenridge, at Govanstown, Maryland. This 

 gentleman a few years ago started as an amateur with a few plants, 

 but now has four houses devoted to them, which he states contain 

 sixty thousand plants. He grows the best known kinds, which am- 

 ateurs would most easily succeed with ; and has met with remarkable 

 success in disposing of plants all over the Union. During the past 

 year he has disposed of over six thousand Lycaste Skin- 

 7ieri alone. He has collectors in the tropics, and proposes to im- 

 port largely of the Mexican and Central American orchids. He 

 does not deal in specimens, but in the smaller plants which find 

 more ready sale to small growers. 



John Saul, of Washington, D. C, started his trade collection 

 in 1879. He has been a large importer, and his houses, three in 

 number, each 100 feet long, contain nearly 10,000 plants. In his 

 collection are 3,000 Dendrobiums and 1,000 Cypripediums, besides 

 Cattleyas and all the better class of orchids. Tiic number of 

 species and varieties approximates 600. In the warm climate 

 of Washington the Indian Orchids flourish exceedingly well, but 

 it is very dillicult to keep the cooler orchids during the summer 

 in a proper state of health. There is no trade or amateur 

 collection south of Washington of which I have any knowledge, 

 with the exception of a small one owned b}' Dr. Richardson, 

 at New Orleans. 



