44 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



where any moment we can expect to get a glimpse of Caitlcija 

 Trktnae. 



In the extreme southern part of ToHma the three chains of Andes 

 are very close to one another, and owing also to the continuous rise 

 of the country from the Caribbean sea southward, we hnd here 

 Cattleya Trianae scattered everywhere; on the lower mountain 

 sides, in the valleys, in hollows between grassy hills, or in fact in 

 any place where there are clumps of trees. The variation of types 

 is very great. Every little valley or stream has its own particular 

 type, but owing to the long distance to a place of shipment these 

 plants will be undisturbed for some time yet, or until everything 

 within easier reach is exhausted. 



In moving northward we gradually descend and the plants dis- 

 appear from the valleys proper and follow the mountain sides and 

 its indentations at an elevation of 2500 feet to 4500 feet above sea 

 level. It persistently follows the mountain slopes at this elevation 

 for about 400 miles and possibly more. 



The gathering, packing, and shipping are more or less the same 

 as with other Cattleyas. 



Further northward we come to Ibague, famous for being the 

 first place where CaftJei/a Trianae was collected. At the time I 

 was there very few plants were left in the mountains, but along the 

 Rio Combeima which flows through Ibague I found quite a few 

 plants, but not enough to gather in large quantities. 



In about one day's riding southeast from Ibague, at a little village 

 called jVIiraflores, I came across plants in sufficient quantity to 

 gather a good shipment. The varieties were superb but I found it 

 very difficult to get the plants out, and the only solution consisted 

 in moving the boxes on mules' backs to a small stream that owing 

 to the rain had swelled to a considerable size. Here I built small 

 rafts, about three and one-half feet wide and long enough to hold 

 nine or ten boxes in single file. Each raft was manned by two men, 

 one at each end, and when everything was ready we cut loose. The 

 stream being full of large boulders, projecting rocks and branches 

 of trees, it was a most perilous journey, and more than once we had 

 close calls, but everything went well and we reached Rio Chili. 

 From the latter we emerged into Rio Saldafia which is a very large 

 river. Here we tied all the rafts together, and then floated down 

 towards the Rio Magdalena and on to Honda. 



