ORCHID CONFERENCE. 



49 



Mr. James Bateman then rose and said : I have particular 

 pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Veitch for his 

 admirable paper. I am sure that he, and Mr. Dominy also, 

 will know and appreciate the effort it costs me to make this 

 proposal, for I have been brought up with the very strongest 

 abhorrence of hybridizers. (Laughter.) I fell into evil hands 

 early in life. My first Orchid-growing friend was Mr. Huntly. 

 When I paid Mr. Huntly a visit at his snug rectory in 

 Huntingdonshire, he pointed out to me his cacti and his Orchids, 

 and said, " I like those plants, in fact they are the only plants 

 I grow, because those fiends (meaning the hybridizers) cannot 

 touch them." (Laughter.) You must make a little allowance 

 for a botanist, for hybridizers do give botanists a lot of trouble — 

 (laughter) — but, however strong my prejudices were, I must 

 confess that when I saw such plants as the cattleya down- 

 stairs, if I was not converted, I was, at all events, what 

 comes to the same thing, shut up. (Laughter.) I have the 

 greatest pleasure in moving this vote of thanks to Mr. Veitch. 

 (Applause.) 



Mr. John Day said he had great pleasure in seconding the 

 motion, for he thought Mr. Veitch richly deserved the thanks of 

 the Conference for his splendid paper. Mr. Bateman had 

 already said all that was necessary, and he had nothing to add 

 except that he was sure everybody would join in thanking 

 Mr. Veitch most cordially. 



The vote of thanks was then carried unanimously. 



Mr. Veitch, responding to the vote, said : I am exceedingly 

 obliged to you, ladies and gentlemen, for your kindness. I look 

 upon you all here as one large family, and if anyone can con- 

 tribute to the pleasure of those they meet, or can add to the 

 scientific knowledge of the country, I think it is his duty to do 

 so. Mr. Bateman is such a kind-hearted, genial gentleman, 

 that many a time I have asked myself why, when he came into 

 my houses, he used to act in such an extraordinary manner 

 when he saw a hybrid. Now I have found it out ; it was this 

 friend of his who he has mentioned who set him the bad 

 example. (Laughter.) However, I am very glad to find that 

 Mr. Bateman has lived sufficiently long to get rid of his pre- 

 judices against the hybrids, and I hope I shall before long be 

 able to name one after him. (Laughter.) 



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