John Dominy ( 1816 - 1891 )

The progress of orchid hybridization is well tabulated , as evidenced by comprehensive listings of Burbidge, Bohnhof , Hurst, Sander,and the Royal Horticultural Society . This is so probably because of the relatively few decades since the technique of artificial orchid hybridization was commenced . Plant breeding was practiced for centuries before bybrid orchid were introduced , but owing to an incomplete understanding of the sexual apparatus of the orchid flower , botanists and gardeners were unable to cross-pollinate orchid until late in the nineteenth century. But the wisdom and skill of a practiced nurseryman , John Dominy, combined to introduce a new strata in orchid growing .

John Dominy was born at Gittisham , Devonshire , England , in 1816, While very young he decided on gardening as his profession and by the time he was eighteen he had completed his term of apprenticeship in a private garden. Thereafter he entered the nursery of Messrs. Lucombe, Pince & Co. of Exeter. He reamined there only two or three months, taking a position with Messrs.Veitch & Co. at their Exeter establishment. There he remained until 1841, when he accepted an appointment as head gardener to J.P. Magor of Redruth, with whom he stayed for at Exeter and at their new Chelsea establishment . He spent the rest of his working years with the Veitch organization.

Though Dominy was an excellent cultivator of greenhouse plants , his fame grew from his accomplishments in Hybridizing . Orchids were his speciality in this line, so much so that few people are aware that he was also a most successful breeder of nephenthes and , to a lesser extent, fuchsis.

Dominy's breakthrough in orchid hybridization is well known . His fame is based on his development of the first man-made orchid hybrid and his eminence in orchid hybridization for twenty-five years thereafter . He rapidly rose to high esteem in horticultural circles , and for his achievement in raising Laeliocattleya Exoniensis, in 1864 the Devon and Exeter. Horticultural Society presented him with " a piece of plate" in recognition of the value of his experiments in hybridizing carried on while a member of their association.

Upon the announcement of his impending retirement there appeared an article in the Gardeners' Chronicle of 12 June 1880, which read:

We hear that Mr. Dominy, whose name has now for forty years been associated with Messrs. Veitch's establishments , is about to retire . Few men connected with horticulture have deservedly gained so much esteem and respect from the wide range of people with which his position has brought him in contact, and still fewer have so indelibly fixed their mark upon any family of cultivated plants as has Mr. Dominy upon Orchids,Nepenthes , etc. , by the number of hybrids with which , by his skill and assiduous perseverance ,the gardens of this country have become enriched ; for it may truly be said ,that of the hundreds of collections of these plants which now exists there are none of note that do not contain some or other of the fine things he has raised ......Others have since followed , and are still following the track in which Mr. Dominy has been the pioneer, and without detracting in the least from their praiseworthy work still the name of Dominy will ever be intimately associated with this , the slowest and most patience -taxing of all operations connected with the gardener's art . Mr. Dominy retires whilst yet hale , and with his love for horticulture undiminished.

Upon his actual retirement the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society presented him with the Gold Flora Medal for " his successful labours as a raiser of hybrid orchids, nepenthes , and other garden plants." A few years later the society again honored him by presenting to him a gold watch and a purse of 200 guineas through their president , Sir Trevor Lawrence ,who stated:

For nearly forty -three years Mr. Dominy had been in the service of Messrs.Veitch-a fact in itself which spoke volumes in the favour ; and indeed , his high personal character was well known to them all. But it was not altogether on this score that his friend had combined to do him honour , but rather on account of his achievements as the first raiser in this country of hybrid orchids.

Dominy maintained his interest in horticultural pursuits for many years after his retirement and regularly attended the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society's Floral Orchid Committees , of which he was a member..

After a short illness he died on 12 February 1891 and was buried at Exeter.

References

Gardener' s chronicle . 1880. Retirement of Mr. Dominy.Vol. 13 ,no. 337.

Gardeners' Chronicle .1880.Vol. 14, no. 343.

Hotus Veitchii. 1906. Chelsea , London: James Veitch & Sons Limited .

Lenz, Lee W. 1956. John Dominy -Pioneer Orchid Hybridizer .Amer . Orch. Soc. Bull. 25,no. 10.

Orchid World ,The . 1916. The Centenary of John Dominy. Vol. 6, no. 7.