September, 1916.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



225 



lots was sold for i,' 1,500, Saccolabium 

 guttatum and S. giganteum realising £^2 and 

 £^46 respectively. Also the Saccolabiums 

 staged by Mr. Shuttleworth from Messrs. 

 Bunney, of Stratford. 



During my stay at High Cross, more 

 especially the first three years, I had to attend 

 to the stoking and regulate and chronicle the 

 temperatures. During the keen winters of 

 1859 — 1 861 it frequently happened that I 

 had to stay late in order to drive the fire, 

 which was not a very brisk one. On many 

 occasions I had to remain until midnight and 

 even till two or three in the morning, often 

 whiling away the time, with the aid of a 

 lantern or candle, drawing with pencil some 

 of the plants in flower. I did not possess a 

 watch ; but before long I made myself 

 acquainted with the movements of the stars, 

 and on clear nights I could judge pretty well 

 what time to bank up and leave the fire so 

 that all would be satisfactory when the next 

 man came on in the early morning. Further 

 glass extension followed, and many rare 

 species and varieties were constantly added 

 to the collection. With the visits of numerous 

 growers, whose patrons were forming collec- 

 tions, was the joy of pointing out many fine 

 Orchids never before seen in Britain. 



Alas, there came a sad and grievous 

 catastrophe! A fearful storm burst upon the 

 district, Tottenham suffering more than any 

 other. The hailstones shattered almost every 

 pane of glass in the dwelling-houses, and, of 

 course, glass erections received an even 

 greater share. The damage to the houses 

 was great, but the plants, more especially a 

 house of Phalasnopses, suffered considerably, 

 scores of plants with stout, healthy leaves 

 6 — 10 inches long were literally cut to pieces, 

 many splendid plants being absolutely 

 ruined. Although the whole of the glass was 

 soon repaired the collection of Phalaenopses 

 was never again so extensive and perfect. 



A large number of John Day's Orchids 

 were painted by Mr. C. B. Durham, and 

 many a time have I placed on a table the 

 plants he was about to paint. I knew this 

 artist well, he was a cheerful and pleasant 

 soul, and lately I have read with interest the 



account of his work published ui the OR(JHII) 

 World, Vol. V., p. 182. 



After some short service in an amateur's 

 collection I was engaged by Mr. Sam Mendel, 

 of Manley Hall, Manchester, whose name is 

 perpetuated in Cattleya Mendelii, which was 

 first introduced by Messrs. Low and Co. in 

 1870 and shortly afterwards by Messrs. Back- 

 house, who named it in compliment to Mr. 

 Mendel. It appears to have first flowered in 

 England in June, 1871, in the collection of 

 Mr. John Day. The magnificent conserva- 

 tory and fernery adjoining Manley Hall were 

 ever attractive and a delight to all who had 

 an opportunity of inspecting them. The glass 

 erections were numerous and well adapted to 

 the different plants and fruit to which they 

 were devoted. 



The Orchids, over which I had charge, 

 comprised as complete a collection as could 

 be gathered together during the early 

 seventies. The plants, generally speaking, 

 were of good size, especially Cattleyas and 

 Epidendrums. Six plants of Dendrobium 

 nobile completely filled the central stage of a 

 large sized span-roofed house. Odonto- 

 glossums, as well as Dendrobiums in baskets, 

 were a special feature, and many of these 

 latter plants when subsequently sold by 

 auction realised from £20 to £^0 each, which 

 gives some idea of their excellence. Of the 

 Vandas, brides, Phalaenopses, Saccolabiums, 

 Angraecums aryd superb specimens of Cypri- 

 pediums I just make mention. It is unneces- 

 sary to run over the species and varieties, 

 since all were represented, the plants being 

 of large size and full of vigour. After I had 

 been at Manley Hall three years Mr. Mendel 

 decided to sell everything in the house and 

 garden, much to the regret of a large number 

 of employees. The sale of the plants, which 

 took place in April, 1873, occupied seven 

 days, the first four being entirely devoted to 

 the Orchids. The total sum realised was 

 £6 ,000. Saccolabium guttatum superbum 

 made £46, Cypripedium Stonei £38, 

 Oncidium splendidum £42 and Masdevallia 

 Lindeni £^g. 



I next entered the service of Mr. W. Leech, 

 of Oakley, Fallowfield, Manchester, where. 



VOL. VL 



30 



