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The Culture of Greenhouse Orchids 



" Once upon a time, then, Messrs. Sander received 

 above a hundred cases, containing many thousands. 

 Among these his collector had marked four; he 

 had not seen them in bloom, but from appearances 

 generally he fancied they might differ from the 

 bulk. They were put aside accordingly. Some 

 days afterwards the late Mr. Harvey, solicitor, of 

 Liverpool, paid a visit to St. Albans, remarked the 

 four plants, and begged one. The circumstances 

 were explained to him, but he persisted ; and 

 although in this instance the dealer had been warned 

 to expect something unusual, the issue was still so 

 uncertain that Mr. Sander gave way, asking two 

 guineas, however, instead of the regular five shillings. 



" Some time afterwards Mr. Harvey brought back 

 the "plant and sold it to Messrs. Sander for 220 

 guineas cash. This glorious variety is now called 

 L. a. Amcsiana, after Mr. Ames, of Boston, U.S.A. 

 It has rosy sejjals, petals with crimson tips, and a 

 lip of darkest maroon. 



" Yet another story of the same kind. Messrs. 

 Sander once imported a quantity of Cattleya inter- 

 'iiiedia, among them one which the collector labelled 

 ' white.' The assertion was so incredible at that 

 time that, in reading it, men simply laughed. 

 Mr. E. H. Measures, of Streatham, called, saw the 

 label, and asked a price. In vain he was told that 



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