128 GEN KRAI- KEVIEW oF THK ORCHIDK.K, 



ORCHID AMATEURS OF THE PAST. 



Our retrospect of orcliid culture would be imperfect without some 

 notice of the most prominent amateurs of orchids who formed collections 

 chiefly between 1825 and 1850, for prior to the first-named date 

 epiphytal orchids were regarded as little else than curiosities for 

 Botanic Gardens and beyond the sphere of the cultivator of ordinary 

 plants. We introduce this notice with the object of preserving from 

 oblivion the honourable mention made of disinterested but withal 

 enthusiastic ladies and gentlemen in contemporary botanical and 

 horticultural publications which are now but rarely consulted except 

 by botanists, for through them a large number of beautiful plants 

 were brought for the first time within the cognisance of science 

 and horticulture, and which contributed more than any cause that 

 we know of to promote orchid culture in this country. 



One of the earliest and most eminent of these was Mr. WilHam 

 Cattley, of Barnet, to whom the noble genus Cattleya is dedicated. 

 He was not only a cultivator but an introducer of exotic plants, 

 and through his correspondents abroad he was enabled to enrich 

 the stoves and greenhouses of this country with several beautiful 

 species previously unknown. At his death in 1832 his collection 

 passed into the hands of Mr. Knight, of Chelsea. Contemporary with 

 Mr. Cattley and surviving him were Mrs. Arnold Harrison and 

 Mr. Richard Harrison, of Liverpool, whose collections of orchids, 

 consisted chiefly of South American species which were sent to them 

 by their brother Mr. William Harrison, a merchant residing at Rio 

 de Janeiro, through whom many fine Brazilian orchids were received 

 for the first time in England. The name of the lady is kept in 

 remembrance by Blfrenaria Harrisonice, and that of Mr. W. Harrison 

 by Oncidmm Harrisonianum. Mr. Bateman states that Mr. Richard 

 Harrison was the first to commence the practice of growing 

 " specimens," and his residence at Aigburth became a sort of Mecca 

 to which the faithful orchid grower made his annual pilgrimage.* 

 His collection was dispersed in 1842. 



We may here mention two other ladies of Liverpool who " taking 



* Orch. Mex. et Guat. Introduction. 



