proclaims it to be a lover of moisture and shade, and under these conditions it 
thrives well. We have not tried the experiment as to whether the plant would 
develop more buds on the peduncle by giving it more heat, or if more flowers 
would arrive at maturity under a cooler regimen; but it is a subject worthy of the 
trial. This plant may be grown in a hanging basket, or as a pot specimen; but 
in either case it requires to be well drained, for as the plant likes an immense 
quantity of water, it must be allowed to run away quickly. The soil hest 
adapted for its culture is good brown peat fibre, from which the fine soil has been 
shaken or beaten, mixed with chopped sphagnum moss, and to which may be added 
a few broken nodules of charcoal when potting. The temperature of the Cattleya 
house suits it best, but care must be taken to maintain a good moist atmosphere 
during the winter months. - 
Sate or tHe Late Mr. George Harpy’s Orcuips.—We were present at this 
sale, which took place at Manchester on the 9th and 10th of May, and were 
highly pleased to see the good prices that the well-known plants of this collection 
realised. It has been said by many of late that the price of Orchids is on 
the decline. This may be so in regard to imported plants; and no wonder, when 
we have novelties sold one day for good prices, and a few days after large 
importations arrive, when the same sized plants are sold for as many shillings apiece 
as they fetched pounds. This is not surprising, considering the reckless way some 
Orchid importers carry on their business, instructing their travellers to clear the ground 
wherever the Orchids are found. It may interest some of our readers to know the 
prices some of Mr. Hardy’s plants fetched, also to know that the amount realised in 
the two first days’ sale will nearly repay the cost of the entire collection, allowing, 
of course, for what has been sold during Mr. Hardy’s lifetime, thus showing how 
much more profitable it is to purchase good things. Amongst the plants sold on 
the first day may be mentioned Laelia Schroderi, 38 guineas; Cattleya intermedia 
alba, 55 guineas; Cattleya Mossiae Reineckiana, 165 guineas; Cypripedium 
Hardyanum, 30 guineas; and Cattleya Mendelii Firthii, 70 guineas. On the 
second day Cattleya Skinneri alba fetched 46 guincas; Laelia grandis tenebrosa 43 
guineas ; Cattleya Mossiae, fine variety, 50 guineas; Cattleya Skinneri alba, 160 
guineas ; Laelia purpurata Williamsii, identical with the plant figured at tt. 9—10 
of this volume, but erroneously named Hardyana, realised 130 guineas; and 
Cattleya Mendelii, Quorn House variety, 150 guineas. —H. W. 
