26o 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[August, 1914. 



MR. J. HOWES. 



BORN 111 the year 1858, Mr. J. Howes 

 commenced his horticultural career at 

 the early age of eleven, when he acted 

 as garden boy. After two years in this 

 position he entered the Eastgate nursery at 

 Peterborough, then owned by Mr. John 

 House, who besides making a speciality of 

 exhibition stove and greenhouse plants, culti- 

 vated Dendrobium nobile, Coelogyne cristata 

 and various Cattleyas. Here he stayed for 

 three years. 



During the following three years he was 

 employed at Sainton House, near Stamford, 

 where his father, now 85 years of age, was 

 head gardener for many years. Following 

 this Mr. Howes was for a short time employed 

 in a small place at Grassendale, Liverpool, 

 where he had charge of a collection of 

 Orchids, consisting of about 100 plants, and 

 which really induced him to take the keen 

 interest he has ever since maintained in these 

 plants. 



The nurseries of Messrs. R. P. Ker and 

 Sons, Liverpool, next found him employment, 

 and from thence he went as journeyman to 

 Haigh Hall, Wigan, the seat of the Earl of 

 Crawford and Balcarres, one of the most 

 important gardens m the north. Orchids, 

 however, all had to be grown in the hottest 

 stove house, consequently the cool-house 

 kinds were always unsatisfactory. At the 

 expiration of two years another change was 

 made. 



Messrs. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea, next 

 found him employment. Here he was under 

 the late Chas. Canham, and well remembers 

 meeting the celebrated John Dommy. Laslio- 

 Cattleya exoniensis was then a wonderful 

 hybrid, and Mr. Howes has vivid recollections 

 of the great interest it created. Another 

 plant of special interest was Cypripedium 

 Si^icerianum, then very rare in commerce. 



The next two years were spent in Tyntes- 

 field Gardens, Bristol, where Orchids were 

 grown in one large span-roof house, as was 

 usual at that period. Needless to remark 

 some kinds flourished exceedingly, while 

 others barely existed. After this Mr. Howes 



was placed m charge of the extensive pleasure 

 grounds, etc., at Monks Orchard, near 

 Croydon. 



In 1883 Mr. Howes was engaged as head 

 gardener to Mr. R. H. Measures, The Wood- 

 lands, Streatham, who till then had not 

 cultivated Orchids. It was not long, however, 

 before Mr. Measures followed the advice so 

 ably given by his new ser\ ant, and withm a 

 few years the Woodlands collection became 

 one of the most noted in the country. About 

 that time several important collections were 

 placed upon the market, and a large number 

 of plants were purchased. Of these mention 

 may be made of the large specimen Vandas 

 acquired from Mr. Hanbury's collection of 

 The Poles, Herts, and various species from 

 Mr. B. S. Wilhams, of Holloway. 



The Woodlands collection was famous for 

 its numerous varieties of Laelia purjaurata and 

 L. elegans, these occupying considerable 

 space. Aerides and Saccolabiums were great 

 favourites and comprised a varied selection. 

 The very pretty Saccolabium Henderson- 

 lanum, usually a difficult subject to cultivate, 

 here grew with much vigour. The plants 

 were imported on pieces of native wood, 

 which were placed in baskets and surrounded 

 with crocks and sphagnum, and subsequently 

 suspended in the Phalasnopsis house. Mr. 

 Howes also reaped much success with the 

 culture of Bolleas and Pescatoreas, of which 

 there were many fine plants, and with various 

 Angrascums, including sesquipedale, Ellisii, 

 ChaiUuanum, Kotschyi, caudatum and Leonis, 

 the latter receiving a First-class Certificate, 

 R.H.S., August 25th, 1885. 



On leaving the Woodlands collection Mr. 

 Howes took charge for about two years of 

 the collection of Orchids formed by Mr. T. 

 Brankston, Blackheath. His next position 

 was that of manager for Mr. Fred. Horsman, 

 of Colchester, who at that time was importing 

 Orchids in very large quantities, especially 

 the good old type of Pacho crispum. 

 Mexican, Brazilian and Guatemalan Orchids 

 were also received. A notable species 

 was Oncidium Jonesianum, a beautiful 

 plant now almost, if not quite, extinct in 

 collections. 



