STORY OF CATTLEYA SKINNERI ALBA 61, 



have a pleasant custom of removing any orchid they find, 

 notable for size or beauty, to set on the church roof or on 

 trees around it. In the course of his long wanderings 

 Roezl had bought or begged several fine plants from a 

 padre, but only when the man was specially reckless or 

 specially influential with his parishioners. The practice 

 dates from heathen times, and the Indians object to any 

 desecration of their offerings. 



It was with curiosity rather than hope, therefore, that 

 Roezl scrutinised the airy garden. There were handsome 

 specimens of Cattleya — Skinneri most frequent, of course — 

 Lycaste, Oncidium, and Masdevallia. They had done 

 blooming mostly, but a belated flower showed here and 

 there. In one big clump he saw something white — looked 

 more closely — paused. The plant was Cattleya Skinneri 

 certainly. How should a white flower be there .^ 



All other collectors, perhaps, at that time, would have 

 passed on, taking it for granted that some weed had rooted 

 itself amid the clump. But for many years Roezl had been 

 preaching that all Cattleyas of red or violent tint, so to 

 class them roughly, must make albino ' sports.' I believe he 

 had not one instance to cite in proof of his theory, which is a 

 commonplace now. A wondrous instinct guided him — the 

 same which predicted that an Odontoglossum of extraordinary 

 character would be found in a province he had never entered, 

 where, years afterwards, the striking Odont. Harryanum was 

 discovered. Men talked of Roezl's odd fancy with respect, 

 but very few heeded it. 



He tried various points of view, but nowhere could the 

 flower be seen distinctly. After grumbling and fuming a 

 while the Cura left him, and presently he followed. That 

 reverend person was an object of interest nov/. At the first 

 opportunity Roezl mentioned that he was seeking a white 

 Flor de San Sebastian, as they name Cattleya Skinneri, for 



