III-: oRrini) wori.d. 



27 



Odontoglossum Mogul, a beautiful hybrid in the collection of Lieul.-Col. Sir George Holford, 



K.C.V.O., Westonbiri. 



Mr. Joseph Chamberlain. — The Kew 

 Dull el hi, 1 914, No. 7, contains an In 

 Memoriam notice of this great statesman, 

 who gave to Kew stimulus, encouragement 

 and support, and who desired that in these 

 historic gardens the people should have the 

 enjoyment of the best that a rich man could 

 afford. We cannot do better than reprint 

 the paragraph more particularly concerning 

 Orchids, which is as follows: — "Kew 

 possesses a collection of Orchids which from 

 a scientific point of view has no rival. It has 

 been built up by the energy and cultural skill 

 of the present Curator. Mr. Chamberlain 

 thought that more concession should be made 

 to popular taste in growing showy kinds of 

 no more than horticultural attraction. Kew 

 cannot afford to give a thousand guineas for 

 an Odontoglossum ; nor can it be expected 

 to reflect every whim of passing fashion. 

 Mr. Chamberlain contributed Dendrobium 

 hybrids, the result of crosses made with his 

 own hand. It must have been a gratification 

 to him when, in 191 3, the munificence of Sir 

 George Holford again realised his larger aim, 

 and the Kew Orchids can now appeal equally 



to the eye and to the intellect. It must not 

 be supposed that in such matters his own 

 taste was otherwise than refined and catholic. 

 He had a wide knowledge of cultivated 

 species. His ' button-hole ' was no affecta- 

 tion, but a note of affection for the plants 

 from which official life kept him aloof. One 

 night in the House of Commons the late 

 Lord Avebury, then Sir John Lubbock, also 

 appeared with an Orchid in his button-hole. 

 Mr. Chamberlain at once pounced upon it as 

 something unknown to him. It was our 

 native Butterfly Orchid which Sir John had 

 gathered that morning in his woods at High 

 Elms. It IS not trivial to touch on these 

 matters. In drawing a portrait the small 

 touches are at least as significant as the 

 large outlines. Mr. Chamberlain's aim was 

 throughout consistent ; he desired that the 

 splendour of a garden should not be the 

 privilege only of the rich. He had the gift of 

 carrying with him the enthusiasm of all who 

 worked under him, and as the advisor of the 

 Government in all that concerns botanical 

 enterprise in the Colonies he did excellent 

 work." 



