May 8, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
569 
arm, and on showing it to Mr. Smith, now the venerable 
ex-Curator, next da} 7 , he smiled and told me that I had 
come off much better than he did some years previously, 
for he was insensible for some two hours after having 
been accidentally stung by the same plant.” 
From the propagating department Mr. Latham was 
removed to the Heath-house, a house devoted to the 
culture of Ericas only, then under the management of 
Mr. Thomas Brown, who was so well known as a most 
successful cultivator of hard-wooded plants, and for 
years was connected with Messrs. Rollisson’s nurseries 
at Tooting. From the Heath-house to the Stove was 
his next change, and then to the Orchid-house, and 
at this period that most interesting aquatic plant, 
Ouvirandra fenestralis, was sent home from Madagascar 
by the Rev. W. Ellis. 
Thus, to use Mr. Latham’s 
own words, “ I finished 
my two years and a few 
months at Kew, ever 
since thankful that it 
was my great privilege 
to have had the oppor¬ 
tunity of serving in this 
truly national garden, 
and forming the acquaint¬ 
ance of men who have 
since held high positions 
in horticulture.” Mr. 
Latham then had a desire 
to get to Chatsworth, at 
that time under the care 
of the late Sir Joseph 
Paxton, to whom he had 
previously applied, and 
after a lapse of a few 
weeks, Sir Joseph wrote 
stating there was a va¬ 
cancy, and to go as soon 
as possible. Reluctant 
to leave Ivew and all its 
associations, where study 
was a necessity, as at 
that time no lessons or 
lectures were given on 
botanical or horticultural 
subjects, still, Chats¬ 
worth was an object to 
be obtained, and a fort¬ 
night after receiving Sir 
Joseph’s letter, Mr. 
Latham found himself at 
the Palace of the Peak, 
and spent the first day in 
looking round the exten¬ 
sive gardens and grounds 
in company with an old 
Kew associate—a privi¬ 
lege always accorded to 
all new comers. Here 
we must again use Mr. 
Latham’s own words. 
“At Chatsworth I found 
a large collection of 
Orchids, embracing many 
noblespecimensof Phake- 
nopsis, such plants as one 
now rarely sees in col¬ 
lections ; Dendrobiums 
grand masses of Ccelo- 
gyne cristata on blocks 
of wood ; Cattleyas, Saccolabiums, .Ernies, Pleiones, 
and many others. There is a fine plant of Amherstia 
nobilis, and the Victoria Regia, is in the highest state 
of perfect cultivation here. The noble conservatory 
excited my admiration, and in my opinion it is the finest 
known ; a wonderful building with its marvellous 
collection of rare, tropical, and sub-tropical plants, 
many of them of immense size. I also found a large 
collection of hardy trees, shrubs, and other plants, and 
gardening generally was in a high state of perfection. 
The scenery is of the grandest description, and massive 
rocks have been built up in the grounds, and amazing 
instances of landscape gardening skill is apparent 
everywhere. Fruit-growing is done on a most extensive 
scale here. Pines in large quantities and in first-rate 
style ; and a very close system of pruning fruit trees, 
much more so than I had previouly seen practised, is 
adopted now with the very best results. Outside of 
the gardens and grounds of Chatsworth I found on the 
hills and in the dales of Derbyshire ample occupation 
for the study of British plants, and added to .my 
collection many not previously met with, and early 
morn and late in the evening in summer time I had 
opportunities of searching for novelties. I shall never 
forget meeting with a great treasure one Sunday 
when I started very early and returned very late, 
happy in the possession of one plant I had found, not 
previously in my collection, Parnassia palustris, and 
I had about forty miles walking that day.” 
Mr. Latham remained at Chatsworth some months, 
and having a desire to have experience in continental 
horticulture, he mentioned the subject to Sir Joseph 
Paxton, who readily consented to write to the late 
W. B. Latham. 
Curator of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. 
Professor Decaisne, at the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, 
and some three months after Sir Joseph Paxton received 
an intimation from the Professor that there was an open¬ 
ing in the Jardin des Plantes, and that Mr. Latham may 
go at once. The wages, Sir Joseph informed him 
would be two francs a day, and lodgings and living 
were dear, so that unless he could get some assistance 
from friends, he would find it difficult to live on such 
small wages in Paris. With a determination highly 
creditable to him, Mr. Latham decided to take the 
offer and not trouble his friends, seeing which, Sir 
Joseph with his customary kindly, frank manner said 
to him “Well, Latham, I admire your courage ; here’s 
£5 to pay your expenses and have a little in hand, and 
if I can be of good service to you at any future time, 
let me know,” and this concluded his stay at 
Chatsworth. A few' days after Mr. Latham saw the 
Jardin des Plantes with a letter of introduction from 
Sir Joseph Paxton to the late M. Neumann, the 
Curator, who at once placed Mr. Latham under the 
care of M. Houllett, whose courtesy and kindness is to 
this day gratefully remembered by Mr. Latham and 
others. 
This establishment, although not so extensive as 
Kew, possessed a large collection of plants, many of 
which Mr. Latham had not previously seen. Quoting 
his own words “A large plant of Lapageria alba, at 
that time the only plant in Europe, attracted my 
attention, and the collection of hardy plants was ex¬ 
tensive. 1 saw Paulovnia Imperialis in flower there for 
the first time, and the finest collection—about 400 
species—of Graininace* I had yet seen, many of them 
most beautiful species, seen by me for the first time. 
Great facilities were given 
to young gardeners to 
attend lectures, whilst 
many visited the large 
Peach and Nectarine 
growing establishments 
outside of Paris, when, 
by the payment of one 
franc each, the head of 
the establishment gave 
them instructions in 
pruning, training, &c. I 
found Sir Joseph Paxton 
had rightly predicted 
that I should find it diffi¬ 
cult to live upon two 
francs a day, but I did it 
for six months, and then 
with a rise of salary of 
half a franc a day I re¬ 
mained another eight 
months, and during that 
time visited some of the 
bestgardensand nurseries 
about Paris. ’’ 
On his return to London 
Mr. Latham obtained 
employment in Messrs. 
Parker and Williams’ 
nurseries, at Holloway, 
and after six months in 
the plant department 
that firm sent him as head 
gardener to Lieut.-Col. 
Perkins, Birtley Hall, 
Chester-le-Street, Dur¬ 
ham, where he remained 
eight years, having 
charge of one of the finest 
collections of Orchids in 
the North of England, 
and a very large collection 
of exotic Ferns, green¬ 
house, and stove plants, 
the Victoria Regia and 
Amherstia nobilis 
amongst them. On the 
retirement, in December, 
1867, of Mr. Catlin, 
Curator of the Birming¬ 
ham Botanical and Hor¬ 
ticultural Society’s gar¬ 
den, after twenty - one 
years service, Mr. Latham 
was selected from about 
200 candidates to succeed 
him. At this time the collection of plants was sorne- 
wdiat limited for a good botanical garden, which had 
existed for thirty-five years ; and of trees and shrubs 
there were the remains of a fine collection, planted 
when the gardens were first made, and for the forma¬ 
tion of a large archery ground, Mr. Latham received 
instructions fromthe committee of the garden to destroy 
one of the best—if not the best—eoffection of Crategus 
and other Rosaceous trees and shrubs in the United 
Kingdom. It was a horrible piece of vandalism which 
Mr. Latham earnestly tried to avert. The collection of 
plants was speedily increased, some by purchases, and 
many by the liberality of friends. The glass accom¬ 
modation was added to by the erection of two houses 
for the growth of plants, and subsequently the large, 
handsome conservatory was built. 
The absolute necessity for still further glass accom¬ 
modation led to a special appeal to the friends of the 
