F. Rathbone, of Albany, N. Y., who founded his collection about 1853, and still maintains it in fine form. Louis Menand, of Albany, was another. He had a few species as early as 1846, and has kept pace with the progress of their culture, and is considered, with Buchanan, amongst the pioneers of orchid-growing in this country. One of the most enthusiastic of our American orchidists was Edward S. Rand, Jr., who, leaving Boston some years since, settled in South America, where he gave much attention to collecting orchids, and made some experiments in growing the Indian orchids, such as Phalaenopsids, Vandas, and Aërides, upon the trees and trellises surrounding his dwelling at Para. His collection near Boston, started in 1873, was an exceptionally good one, embracing fine specimens of nearly every species then introduced. His work on Orchid Culture embodied some valuable information, especially on points relating to orchid culture in this country. Mr. Rand's collection was kept up for a short time only, most of the valuable specimens going to Mr. Frederick L. Ames, of North Easton. From about 1865 up to the present time, orchid growing in America has been more general, and is now widely diffused over the country; so that, in place of the dozen or fifteen collections kept up twenty years ago, almost entirely in the Eastern states, we find good collections scattered all through the Northern states, and in Canada. Many of these collections number from one thousand to one thousand five hundred plants, and are rich in fine varieties and large specimens.

The most rapid growth of the orchid fever has, however, been within the last ten years. Within that period, English nurserymen have enormously increased the importations from the tropics, and as a result of the activity of their trained agents, most of them experienced botanists and familiar with the orchid family, unexplored sections have been penetrated, and hitherto unknown species brought to light. Many more exist which collectors have not found, or, having found, have not succeeded in introducing alive. An estimate has been made by good authority that not less than five thousand species exist, of which two thousand have been, or are, in cultivation. In the former part of the statement there is much of conjecture, but in regard to the latter there is no doubt. Discoveries of new orchids of very prominent distinctiveness are likely to continue as long as indefatigable collectors are kept at work in the tropics, urged on by the desire of

orchid fanciers for new varieties which shall outrival any of those previously brought into cultivation.

It would be interesting to review thoroughly the immense quantity and variety of new Orchids introduced since 1875, but the lack of space will not permit this to be done; suffice it to say, however, that since that year such Orchids as Vanda Sanderiana, Odontoglossum cirrhosum, Bollea cœlestis, Aerides crassifolium, A. Lawrenceæ, A. Sanderianum, Cypripedium Lawrenceanum, C. Spicerianum, Cattleya Lawrenceana, Cymbidium Lowianum, Dendrobium superbiens, and hosts of new Masdevallias (a genus, by the way, which in 1830 was thought to have but three species) have been discovered; besides unlimited numbers of varieties of species, like Odontoglossum crispum, Cattleya Triance, etc. When we look over such a collection as that of Corning, at Albany, and find there alone over eleven hundred species, assembled from every part of the tropical world, with additions constantly coming, the contrast with the dearth of orchidaceous knowledge in 1830, fifty-five years ago, is startling; then -as Lindley puts it" the orchidaceous plants of tropical America were scarcely known either in gardens or herbaria; those of the Philippine islands were unheard of; and the numerous Javan species were only puzzles which the Dutch had the means of unravelling."

The increase of trade collections in America has not been in proportion to the growth of collections owned for private use or pleasure. As stated previously, Isaac Buchanan, Louis Menand, and Robert Buist were the first to take up the growth of orchids in a commercial way; and no doubt even they were impelled to it more by a personal interest in Orchids than by any hope of great gain. Mr. Buchanan has a small collection left, but he does not give that space to orchids which he formerly did. American florists, with one or two exceptions, have found it difficult to keep up a profitable trade in orchid plants, owing to the competition of English nurserymen, and the large auction sales in New York. Mr. George Such, of South Amboy, N. J., had the finest trade collection ever maintained in this country. It embraced fine specimens bought from private collections, many of the best plants from the Lienau and Van Voorst sales having been added to it. Mr. Such imported largely direct from Mexico, South America, India, and elsewhere. Thousands of valuable orchids

were sold from this establishment, many of them particularly fine varieties, which are difficult to duplicate now. Mr. Such's greenhouses were resorted to by all orchid growers. They were doubly attractive because always neat and clean; and the dispersion of his collection by auction about three years ago was an era among orchidists. There were over four thousand five hundred plants disposed of, and over twelve thousand dollars was realized at the sale.

Mr. Menand, at Albany, N. Y., has about four hundred and fifty species in his collection, where they are associated with other plants, such as camellias, cacti, etc., while many are grown in the open air in summer. He grows some kinds to better advantage than almost any other cultivator in this country. A. F. Chatfield, of Albany, maintained a trade collection for years, and imported and disposed of many fine plants; but I do not know whether he still keeps it up to any extent. William Matthews,

of Utica, N. Y., is getting together a good trade collection. The largest collection of orchids kept for sale purposes is probably that of A. Brackenridge, at Govanstown, Maryland. This gentleman a few years ago started as an amateur with a few plants, but now has four houses devoted to them, which he states contain sixty thousand plants. He grows the best known kinds, which amateurs would most easily succeed with; and has met with remarkable success in disposing of plants all over the Union. During the past year he has disposed of over six thousand Lycaste Skinneri alone. He has collectors in the tropics, and proposes to import largely of the Mexican and Central American orchids. He does not deal in specimens, but in the smaller plants which find more ready sale to small growers.

John Saul, of Washington, D. C., started his trade collection in 1879. He has been a large importer, and his houses, three in number, each 100 feet long, contain nearly 10,000 plants. In his collection are 3,000 Dendrobiums and 1,000 Cypripediums, besides Cattleyas and all the better class of orchids. The number of species and varieties approximates 600. In the warm climate of Washington the Indian Orchids flourish exceedingly well, but it is very difficult to keep the cooler orchids during the summer in a proper state of health. There is no trade or amateur collection south of Washington of which I have any knowledge, with the exception of a small one owned by Dr. Richardson, at New Orleans.

William C. Wilson, of Astoria, L. I., is another commercial dealer in orchids, and also transacts an immense business in other plants. He started as early as 1870 to increase his stock of orchids, and since that time, he writes, he has disposed of from 40,000 to 50,000 plants of different varieties. He now has from 300 to 400 different varieties of the most popular kinds, and grows them largely for supplying cut flowers, which within a year or more have become fashionable, and are in great demand. Another promising commercial grower is Henry Siebrecht, of New Rochelle, N. Y. His collection was founded about three years ago and has made rapid growth. It now numbers about 3,700 plants, comprising 1,500 Cattleyas, 400 Lælias, 500 Cypripediums, 500 Aërides, Vandas, Saccolabiums, etc., and 400 Odontoglossums, with miscellaneous kinds making up the remainder. Among these are fine specimens of valuable kinds, and the plants are well grown.

One of the best lots of orchids around New York is that owned

by John S. Bush, at Tremont, N. Y. The plants were in a very

robust state of health when I last saw them. There are here about 2,300 plants, of which 398 are Cattleyas, 357 Dendrobiums, 200 Phalaenopsids, 271 Cypripediums, 134 Vandas and Aërides, 662 Odontoglossums, 100 Calanthes, 70 Coelogynes, etc. William Bennett, of Flatbush, L. I., has a collection of orchids for trade purposes; but I do not know how large or valuable it is.

There are few commercial places around New York where some orchids are not grown; but the above collections are the only ones I know of which are large enough to be noted. Benjamin Grey, at Malden, in this State, has a large span-roofed house about 100 feet long devoted to orchids. Here he has about 3,000 plants, made up of 17 species of Cattleyas, 27 of Cypripediums, 36 of Dendrobiums, 13 of Epidendrums, 12 of Lælias and about 50 other genera; in all there are over 200 species and varieties. Mr. Grey is an orchid grower of long experience and his plants are cultivated for the flowers only, no plants being sold. The plants here are grown without any shading whatever, and in consequence are very free bloomers.

In New York city more particularly, orchid flowers have become so popular that the few who grow them find it difficult to meet the demand. A year ago they were not in such request, and though the present demand seems to be confined to New York, the

rage for them as they become better known and the supply increases is likely to spread to other cities. The kinds which are most profitably grown for trade purposes are-Cattleya Triana, C. Mossiæ, C. Mendelii, Cœlogyne cristata, Lælia anceps, L. autumnalis, Cypripedium insigne, C. Spicerianum, C. Harrisianum, C. villosum, Lycaste Skinneri, Odontoglossum crispum, O. Pescatorei, O. Rossi major, and Dendrobium nobile. Many more can be added to this list, but good collections of these kinds, well grown, are more profitable than mixed collections of less reliable. and more expensive varieties. If the present demand for orchids proves to be a steady and growing one, their cultivation for cut flowers on a large scale will prove profitable. Florists in the vicinity of New York judge that the fashion for orchid flowers is in its infancy, though it must be confessed it is confined almost entirely, at present, to the ultra fashionable society of New York, where a craze is often as ephemeral as it is sudden.

There are but two botanical gardens in the United States that maintain collections of orchids. That at Cambridge, Mass., before referred to, had the honor of growing the first orchids of which we have record in this country, away back in 1818. This garden has held many fine plants in its time, but they have not always been successfully grown; and many rare and valuable kinds have been lost through bad treatment. With the present new houses well adapted to them, and with treatment on the part of the present gardener, W. A. Manda, calculated to insure a robust growth, the collection is decidedly improving. In 1883 it contained 273 plants and 167 species and hybrids; but now, only three years later, the garden has 828 plants in 378 species and hybrids. There are a stove, an intermediate, and a cool house devoted to them.

The United States Botanic Garden at Washington, under the care of William R. Smith, dates its collection of orchids from 1852, when there was a small lot grown. Aerides odorata and Vanda teres were grown there as far back as 1855. The collection of 120 species remained stationary for a long time, but has been increased in later years until it now embraces 52 genera and 247 species and varieties. There are 32 species and varieties of Dendrobiums and 22 species and varieties of Cypripediums. The collection contains some fine groups of Cattleyas, etc.

The private collections of this country which are suffi