53 



This list of prices may be concluded with the following 

 recent sales. The collection of the late Mrs. M. J. Morgan, 

 Madison Square, New York, was sold by auction in October, 

 1885, but, though it is reputed to 'have cost 40,000, the pro- 

 ceeds of the sales did not amount to one-third of the sum, yet 

 some large prices were realised. The highest amount was 180, 

 given by Siebrecht and Wadley, New York, for Vanda Sanderiana. 

 Messrs. Veitch and Sons gave 150 for Cypripedium Morganise, 

 which was originally obtained from the Chelsea Nursery, and the 

 other principal prices were Vanda Lowi 80, Cattleya exoniensis 

 58, C. Skinneri 50, and Vanda Batemanni 20. At the sale 

 of the late Mr. Percival's orchids, February 2nd, 1886, the prin- 

 cipal prices (in guineas) were as follows: Ccelogyne cristata, 

 Chatsworth variety, 200 pseudo-bulbs, 17 ; Laelia anceps Perci- 

 valiana, 47; Cypripedium punctatum violaceum, 20; Cattleya 

 Mossias Arnoldiana, 32 ; Cattleya Percivaliana, 36 pseudo-bulbs, 

 80; Lselia purpurata alba, 113 pseudo-bulbs, 50; C. elegans alba, 

 50; C. anceps Percivaliana, go pseudo-bulbs, 100; Dawsoni, 17, 

 and Barkeri, 30. In April, 1886, Mr. Brownlow D. Knox, Caver- 

 sham, Reading, exhibited at South Kensington a remarkable 

 variety of Odontoglossum Pescatorei, with yellow flowers and 

 crimson spots. It was named Knox's variety, and was sold the 

 next day at Stevens' Rooms for 165, Baron Schroder being the 

 purchaser ; and ten days later the same Orchidist also purchased 

 a handsome crimson-spotted variety of Odontoglossum crispum 

 (Alexandras) for 160, at Protheroe's Rooms. 



Some hybrid orchids have realised very high prices by private 

 sale, running up to 200 guineas, and an example of the most 

 valuable is Lcelia bella, with some of the Cypripediums, yet in 

 contrast with these abundance of useful and easily grown orchids 

 can now be purchased for a few shillings each, and for 5, an 

 interesting little collection can be obtained. General Catalogue 

 prices vary from 33. 6d- to 15 guineas, but orchids may be 

 purchased at lower prices than named, and the most costly 

 varieties are not quoted in the lists. We thus have a remarkable 

 contrast in the value of these plants, for while rare and beautiful 

 species, varieties, or hybrids, have never realised such high 

 prices as at the present time, never could " cool house" orchids 

 be procured so cheaply. As an illustration of the variability of 

 prices, the history of the rich crimson purple-tinted Dendrobium 

 nobile npbilius, as related by Mr. H. James, is noteworthy : 

 " The original plant of D. nobile nobilius, was bought at Steven's 

 Rooms in 1876, and was one of a bundle of twelve plants, which 

 cost I2s. It flowered in the imported pseudo-bulb early in 1877, 

 and was exhibited at Kensington. It was shortly afterwards sold 

 to Messrs, Rollisson for 5 guineas, by whom it was exceedingly 

 well grown, and flowered freely in 1879, when it was sent to the 



