THE PROGRESS OF ORCHID CULTURE IN AMERICA. 135 



William C. Wilson, of Astoria, L. I., is another commercial 

 dealer in orchids, and also transacts an immense business in other 

 plants. He started as early as 1870 to increase his stock of 

 orchids, and since that time, he writes, he has disposed of from 

 40,000 to 50,000 plants of different varieties. He now has from 

 300 to 400 different varieties of the most popular kinds, and 

 grows them largely for supplying cut flowers, which within a year 

 or more have become fashionable, and are in great demand. 

 Another promising commercial grower is Henry Siebrecht, of 

 New Eochelle, N. Y. His collection was founded about three 

 years ago and has made rapid growth. It now numbers about 

 3,700 plants, comprising 1,500 Cattleyas, 400 Laelias, 500 

 Cypripediums, 500 Aerides, Vandas, Saccolabiums, etc., and 

 400 Odontoglossums, with miscellaneous kinds making up the re- 

 mainder. Among these are fine specimens of valuable kinds, and 

 the plants are well grown. 



One of the best lots of orchids around New York is that owned 

 by John S. Bush, at Tremont, N. Y. The plants were in a very 

 robust state of health when I last saw them. There are here about 

 2,300 plants, of which 398 are Cattleyas, 357 Dendrobiums, 200 

 Phalaenopsids, 271 Cypripediums, 134 Vandas and Aerides, 662 

 Odontoglossums, 100 Calanthes, 70 Coelogynes, etc. William 

 Bennett, of Flatbush, L. I., has a collection of orchids for trade 

 purposes ; but I do not know how large or valuable it is. 



There are few commercial places around New York where some 

 orchids are not grown ; but the above collections are the only 

 ones I know of which are large enough to be noted. Benjamin 

 Grey, at Maiden, in this State, has a large span-roofed house 

 about 100 feet long devoted to orchids. Here he has about 3,000 

 plants, made up of 17 species of Cattleyas, 27 of Cypripediums, 

 36 of Dendrobiums, 13 of Epidendrums, 12 of LiBlias and about 

 50 other genera ; in all there are over 200 species and varieties. 

 Mr. Grey is an orchid grower of long experience and his plants 

 are cultivated for the flowers only, no plants being sold. The 

 plants here are grown without any shading whatever, and in conse- 

 quence are ver}' free bloomers. 



In New York city more particularl}', orchid flowers have become 

 so popular that the few who grow them find it difficult to meet the 

 demand. A year ago they were not in such request, and though 

 the present demand seems to be confined to New York, the 



