MY GARDENING. 19 
Stevens did not write within the next few days 
reclaiming my treasure, I pondered the incident 
calmly. Perhaps they had been selling bankrupt 
stock, and perhaps they often do so. Presently I 
returned. 
“Charles!” I said, “you sold me a Cattleya 
Mossi@ the other day.” 
Charles, in shirt-sleeves of course, was analyzing 
and summing up half a hundred loose sheets of 
figures, as calm and sure as a calculating machine. 
“TI know I did, sir,” he replied, cheerfully. 
“It was rather dear, wasn’t it ?”’ I said. 
“That’s your business, sir,” he laughed. 
“Could I often get an established plant of 
Cattleya Mossi@ in flower for 4s.?” I asked. 
“ Give me the order, and I'll supply as many as 
you are likely to want within a month.” 
That was a revelation ; and I tell the little story 
because I know it will be a revelation to many 
others. People hear of great sums paid for 
orchids, and they fancy that such represent only 
the extreme limits of an average. In fact, they 
have no relation whatsoever to the ordinary price. 
One of our largest general growers, who has but 
lately begun cultivating those plants, tells me that 
half-a-crown is the utmost he has paid for Cattle- 
yas and Dendrobes, one shilling for Odonto- 
C2 
