THE CONFERENCE. 



WEDNESDAY, MAY the 13th, 1885. 

 SIR TEEVOE LAWEENCE, BART., M.P., in the Chair. 



THE PRESIDENT, in opening the proceedings, said : The 

 business before us to-day is of such a nature that it will 

 take a considerable time to get through it, and therefore I think 

 it is necessary to commence what we have to do at once. I 

 think, ladies and gentlemen, I ought to apologise to you for 

 making any introductory remarks. The Conference on Orchids, 

 which we are now about to commence, has largely to do with 

 the botanical and scientific aspect of the cultivation of Orchids, 

 and I need hardly say that I should not venture to express any 

 opinion whatever on matters of botanical science in connection 

 with this subject. It is only as a horticulturalist that I have 

 the honour to occupy the position that I now occupy, and there- 

 fore I must ask you to be so kind as not to suppose that I am in 

 any way presuming or proposing to give any opinion on the 

 botanical or scientific side of the question. I think you will one 

 and all agree with me that the Eoyal Horticultural Society and 

 the Conference Committee have every reason to be satisfied 

 with the success which has attended the Conference. (Hear, 

 hear,) I very much doubt whether such a collection of Orchids 

 has ever been gathered together as that we have in the 

 conservatory below, and I believe it would be impossible to 

 gather together such a collection of orchids as is there displayed 

 in any other part of the world. (Hear, hear.) The thanks of 

 the Conference Committee are due to those amateurs who have 

 helped them on this occasion, and also to those members of the 



