ORCHID AMATEDKS OF THE PAST. 131 



thai time an uuworked iiiiue in Natural History, and where there 

 was believed to be a rich store of orchids. Having- heard of Mr. 

 Skinner through the specimens of birds and insects which he 

 presented to the Natural History Museum at Manchester, Mr. Bateraan 

 wrote to him in March, 1834, and explained by means of sketches 

 of some orchids what kind of plants he wished to see introduced 

 from that country into England, Mr. Skinner responded to the 

 appeal in a manner that far exceeded the expectation of the writer, 

 and in less than ten years all the finest orchids of Guatemala w^ere 

 in cultivation in British gardens, most of which flowered for the first 

 time in Mr. Bateman's stove at Knypersley. The many new and 

 beautiful orchids thus brought to light, together with the energy 

 displayed bj^ that gentleman both in practice and by his publications 

 to promote orchid culture, secured for him a very prominent 

 position among the orchid authorities of tbis country. So early as 

 1887 Sir William Hooker dedicated to him the volume of the 

 Botanical Magazine for that year which Mr. Bateman fancifully 

 designated the annus mirabilis of Orchidology. 



It was in 1837 that Gibson brought to Chatswortli the rich coUcftion 

 he gathered on the Kliasia Hills. In that same year ]\Ir. Skinner sent 

 to England the finest of tlie Guatenialian orchids ; Cuming sent liome 

 his first consignment from the riiili[)pine Islands including the first 

 Phalsenopsis received alive in iMighnul, a single plant of P. Aphrodite. 

 The brothers Schombuvgk made their first contrilnition from British 

 Guiana; and lastly a Frenchman named Deschamps brought from Vera 

 Cruz a large consignment of ^Mexican orchids, nearly the Avhole of which 

 was disposed of in England. Pvo1)ably not less than 300 species 

 were i^a^n in England for the fii'st time in that mem(n'al)Ie year. 

 The Orcliidomania whii-li luul Ix'cn rapidly spreading became greatly 

 intensified l)y such an unusual additioJi of new forms. "From that 

 time houses tor their accommodation were raised in every direction; 

 pots for their exclusive use were sold in the shops of London ; their 

 blossoms were imitated l)y the most fashional>le manufacturers of artificial 

 flowers ; and the most nuniificent prizes were offered by horticultural 

 societies for the finest specimens."* 

 Probably no one contributed more to bring about this great change 

 in the aspect of oi-chid culture than Mr. George Ure Skinner, pre- 

 eminently one of the "Orchid Worthies" of England, by wdiose 

 untiring energy and disinterestedness the most beautiful orchids 



* IJatum. Urcli. Mex. et Guat. lutroductiou. 



