SEPTEMBER, 191 4.| THE ORCHID REVIEW. 279 
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TAR AN OLD CATALOGUE. Sel 
N interesting glimpse of Orchid culture in the past is afforded by some 
of the old Catalogues, and we may illustrate our remarks by one 
issued by M. J. Linden as long ago as 1853. It is entitled ‘‘ Prix Courant 
de J. Linden a Bruxelles. Printemps, Eté et Automne de 1853.” 
Over seven hundred species and varieties of exotic Orchids are 
enumerated, and in most cases the native country is given. That it differs 
greatly from modern Catalogues goes without saying, for besides the entire 
absence of hybrids, many species now familiar in collections are missing, 
including the popular Odontoglossum crispum, while there are many others- 
that are very rarely met with in the present day. The maximum price was 
200 francs, at which Vanda suavis and Uropedium Lindenii were offered, 
Vanda tricolor and V. insignis were 100 francs each, and the beautiful V. 
cerulea from 50 to 150 francs, while V. teres could be had from 20 to 40 
francs. The Javan Phalenopsis grandiflora ranged from 100 to 150 francs, 
the latter figure being fixed for the Philippine P. rosea and the so-called P. 
amabilis, a name now known to be erroneous, and replaced by P- 
Aphrodite. These are the only three Phalanopses in the Catalogue. 
Other eastern Orchids appear to have sold well, for we find Saccolabium 
guttatum, S. preemorsum, and Blumei majus priced at 125 francs, while the 
typical S. Blumei and the Bornean S. retusum were 25 francs cheaper. 
In point of numbers, Epidendrum heads the list with 49 species, 
followed by Oncidium with 48, Dendrobium with 46, Odontoglossum with 
27, and Cattleya with 22. Odontoglossum Pescatorei is priced at 150 francs, 
followed by O. ramosissium and O. nzvium at 100 francs, while 75 to 100 
francs was asked, and possibly obtained, for O. auropurpureum, a species 
Probably not now in cultivation. Cattleya Holfordii, now known to be a 
synonym of C. luteola, was priced at 100 francs, followed by C. Aclandiz 
at 40 to 80 francs, while C. Harrisoniana was as low as 15 francs. 
Cypripedium insigne could be had as low as 2 francs each, while 40 was. 
asked for C. javanicum, a species now rarely seen. And hybridists will be 
Interested to know that Brassavola Digbyana was then offered at from 50 to 
100 francs, for there was a later period when the stock could have been 
Cleared out several times over at the price. 
Of course, the majority of the plants stood at much smaller figures, 
For example Dendrobium nobile was priced at from 5 to 25 francs, and 
selections at the choice of the establishment are offered at 12 for 60 francs, 
25 for 150, 50 for 500, and roo for 1500, or an average of 6 to 15 francs each, 
it being explained that the larger collections contained more of the higher 
Priced species. And rarity then, as now would be one of the determining. 
