70 



REPORT ON THE ORCHID CONFERENCE. 



It seems to me that everything points in the direction that the 

 whole of the nutriment which the plant draws in, whatever it is, 

 is taken through the air, upon which the plant subsists. Should 

 we continue this meeting at a future time, I think it would be 

 worth while for any members who may have special subjects 

 to bring before the meeting to treat them in their own way. 



The Chairman, after a hearty vote of thanks had been awarded 

 to Mr. Borwick for his remarks on the question of manures, 

 said : I cannot give any promise that this meeting will be con- 

 tinued, because we have hardly got so far as that. When we 

 first took up this idea of an Orchid Conference, we did so with 

 considerable trepidation, because we had not only to consider 

 the time of the year when people would be in London, but also 

 the season when plants could be moved without being injured. 

 Of course, if we want to have the best possible show, we ought 

 to have it very much earlier ; but then we have to consider 

 about people being in London, and the question of visitors, and 

 other matters connected with it. It must be remembered that 

 this Conference brings no grist to the mill of the Horticultural 

 Society in any way. We do not take any money at the door, 

 but it is all done out of the pure love of Orchid growing. (Hear, 

 hear.) I should say, speaking my own mind and feeling on the 

 subject, that this Orchid Conference should continue. It has, I 

 think, been a great success, everybody seems to have been 

 exceedingly well pleased and satisfied, and I must say a great 

 deal more interest has been taken hi the subject than I ever 

 expected to see. I was especially glad to see so many gentlemen 

 come back after the adjournment for lunch. It now only remains 

 for me to thank you all for your very kind attendance and for 

 the very patient way in which you have listened to the remarks 

 that have been made. (Hear, hear.) 



Mr. Holbrook Gaskell, of Liverpool, then said : I strongly 

 hope that the Council of the Horticultural Society will see their 

 way to make this an annual Conference. I am quite sure that 

 the oftener it is held the more largely it will be attended. I would 

 wish now to propose that the thanks of the meeting be accorded 

 to those gentlemen, especially to two of them — Sir Trevor 

 Lawrence and Mr. Lee — who have taken such a vast deal of 

 trouble for our entertainment. 



This motion having been carried with acclamation, the Chair- 

 man announced that there would be a Primula Conference next 

 year, and the proceedings were brought to a close. 



