December, 1915-] 



THE ORCHID WORIJ). 



63 



flooded he changed his plans. About this 

 time a white Ornithidium was discovered. At 

 Clonia a few large plants of Masdevallia 

 picturata were seen, also a white Masdevallia, 

 but only two plants. M. Wageneriana, or 

 xanthina, was also collected, and Epidendruin 

 tovarense. Early in July 2}, cases were 

 despatched from Caracas. 



During July a journey was made to Bocono 

 in order to secure certain Anguloas and large 

 Cattleyas, from there to Varenas, a hitherto 

 unexplored district, and back again in time to 

 see Cattleya Percivaliana in flower and select 

 the dark flowering varieties. Three large 

 specimens, costing £^0, were found near 

 Bolivar. The natives often spoke of the 

 Anguloas as white, yellow, red, and dark red, 

 so Arnold decided to re-visit Bocono during 

 the flowering season, which extended from 

 March to May. The species proved to be 

 uniflora, or eburnea, Ruckeri and its variety 

 sanguinea, and Clowesi. Xylobium hyacin- 

 thinum was found plentifully distributed all 

 over Venezuela. 



It was in October that Arnold described 

 how he found Cattleya Mossiae growing at an 

 altitude of 3,oco feet and C. Percivaliana at 

 4,500, consequently the latter should be 

 cultivated in a correspondingly cooler 

 atmosphere. About 30 cases of plants were 

 collected, including C. Percivaliana alba and 

 Epidendrum sceptrum. Round about Trujillo 

 were large quantities of Peristeria elata, 

 commonly known as the Dove Orchid. 



Towards the end of 1883 Messrs. Sander 

 and Sons instructed Arnold to travel west of 

 Maracaybo, a district which no European had 

 previously visited. A projected visit to the 

 Sierra de Perija, where it was expected some 

 good thing might be found, was abandoned, 

 as it was impossible to get anything out of 

 the district. Some 30 years previous there 

 was a road to Columbia, but it was now in 

 utter ruin, and used by no one. No guides 

 could be procured. 



The remainder of the year was spent in 

 continuous search. Stanhopea eburnea was 

 found in Chirgua, and in other districts 

 Uropedium Lindeni, some 80 species of 

 Epidendrum, 40 of Maxillaria, a quantity of 



Masdevallia Schlimii, .Sobralia virginalis and 

 Ejaidendrum evectum, the latter evidently 

 useful and attractive, for Messrs. Sander 

 subsequently inquired for a thousand plants. 



1S84. 



The beginning of 1884 found Arnold still 

 at work collecting Odontoglossum ramosis- 

 simum and Masdevallia Schlimii. wSobralias 

 were met with in a growing state and not fit 

 for shipment ; one was S. virginalis, the other, 

 also flowering in August, known as violacea 

 albiflora. Four Odontoglossums found 

 growing with odoratum were described by 

 Arnold as distinct. He wished them to be 

 called O. Arnoldianum, but when flowered in 

 England they proved to be O. Schillerianum. 

 A new Masdevallia, like Shuttleworthii, and 

 one measuring 8 inches across, were also 

 found. 



In February were despatched from Bocono 

 many Anguloas, Cattleyas and Odonto- 

 glossums. Large numbers of Maxillarias 

 were then in flower, but too early for 

 Xylobium hyacinthinum. Mormodes Buc- 

 cinator could be obtained at Chirgua and 

 Cattleya Mossiae from San Felipe. During 

 March no less than 84 cases of Orchids were 

 despatched. Before packing the Anguloas it 

 was found necessary to cut off all the new 

 growth. 



The supply of packing cases was evidently 

 becoming exhausted, for the next consign- 

 ment was sent in eight barrels. It consisted 

 of Diacrium bicornutum, Epidendrum Stam- 

 fordianum, Oncidium species, Cyrtopodium 

 punctatum, and a few white varieties of 

 Cattleya Mossias. When at San Felipe, in 

 May, Arnold had the misfortune to meet with 

 robbers, who broke open his box and stole 

 £^/. The San Felipe type of Cattleya 

 Mossiae was found to be similar to that 

 growing at Bocono, but different to the 

 Caracas type. During May, 22 cases of plants 

 were collected and sent off from Puerto 

 Cabello and 27 from Caracas. Nothing more 

 could be done until August, everything being 

 in growing condition. Cattleya Gaskelliana 

 was the next species collected, also Oncidium 



