Walter Davis ( 1847 - 1930 )

For those who reach the peak of their skills and abilities just as their era comes to an end ,disappointment must be a bitter pill. Walter Davis , one of the last of teh Veitchian collectors, was one of those to see the end of " that golden age of horticulture," the Victorian Era.The extent of his collections never had the time or opportunity to be extensive , but the excellence of the orchid he collected and introduced was undeniable , particularly those of the genus Masdevallia .

Walter Davis was born on 14 September 1847, at Amport , a samll village in the Country of Hampshire ,Scotland . From his father he inherited a taste for natural history and outdoor pursuits ,and at twelve years of age his interests turned to a love for gardening . Upon leaving school he entered the gardens of the marquis of winchester . Thereafter he gained added experience in various other gardens until , in 1870, he entered the employ of Messrs .James Veitch at Chelsea , England . Serving under John Dominy in the New Plant Department ,he eventually became foreman in charge of the nepenthes and fine foliage plants .

In 1873 an opportunity came to send a collector to South America. Davis was selected , his special object being to secure a quantity of Masdevallia veitchiana , which had already been introduced to English orchidists in 1867 but was still scarce . He sailed on 2 August 1873 and was successful not only in collecting Masdevallia veitchiana but several other species of the genus , including Masdevallia ionocharis and aMasdevallia davisii , the later named in his honor by H.G. Reichenbach .Twenty times he crossed the South American land Mass, travelling like Gustave Wallis had done ,by way of the Amazon valley.

On his return to England Davis was selected to conduct the botanical analysis of herbage on the experimental plots at Rothamstead , upon completion of the course he returned to the Chelsea nursery and continued under employment for the Veitches .

Plant propagation was one of his specialities ,and , writing for the Exchange and Mart, he treated the subject for many years under the pseudonyms of Charles Benett (using his mother's maiden name ) and Curiosus .

Upon dissolution of the Veitch firm Davis acted as temporary secretary to the Geological and Royal Geographical Societies , in that order. He also acted as secretary to a philanthropic society managed by American women in London.

Failing eyesight ,caused by a paralytic stroke , forced Davis to spend the last ten years of his life in retirement , in the care of his eldest daughter ,In Fulham . He died on 18 November 1930 ,and with his passing the world of orchidology bid farewell to one of the last reminders of an elegant and exciting period in orchid discovery and cultivation .

References

Irvin ,R. 1960 .The Early Orchid Collectors . The Orch . Rev. 68 ,no. 803.

Journal of Botany . 1931 . Walter Davis .Vol. 69,no. 817 .

Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society . 1948 . Vol. 73 ,part 9.

Lemmon ,Kenneth . 1962 . The Covered Garden . London : Museum Press Ltd .

Orchid Review ,The . 1931 .Vol . 39 ,no. 451.

Veitch ,James H. 1906.Hortus Veitchii ,Chelsea ,London : James Veitch & Sons Ltd.