118 
[ February 11, 1886. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
THE PERUIVAL COLLECTION OF ORCHIDS. 
At present it is very difficult to obtain a complete list of those who 
purchased the principal plants of this collection, as all the officials of the 
Liverpool H >rticultural Company are still kept very busy, as may be ex¬ 
pected. Many of the most noteworthy plants were sol 1 for the prices 
named in the catalogue, as referred to last week on page 86. The prin¬ 
cipal plants for which there were several would-be buyers were sold during 
the afternoon of the 3rd inst. Some of the particulars may be in¬ 
teresting. 
Amongst Coelogynes two only will be mentioned, and both passed into 
the hands of Messrs. Sander of St. Albans, for seventeen and eleven 
guineas respectively. The plant for the first contained about 200 pseudo¬ 
bulbs in an 18-inch pan, and was the Chatsworth variety of C. cristata. 
The latter was in a pan 30 inches in diameter, and rising 16 inches in the 
centre. The catalogue price for these two was ten and eight guineas in 
the order named. The only particulars obtained of Lselia anceps was of 
a plant of L. anceps Percivaliana with thirty-eight pseudo-bulbs and eight 
flower spikes, which passed into the hands of Mr. B. S. Williams, Victoria 
and Paradise Nursery, Upper Holloway, London, for forty-seven guineas, 
being seven guineas more than the reserve price. Cypripedium insigne 
punctatum violaceum with twenty growths was purchased by Messrs. 
Sander & Co. for twenty guineas. Mr. J. Cypher, Cheltenham, secured 
smaller plants with half the number of growths for ten guineas. Messrs. 
Sander Sc Co. bought Cypripedium Dominianum with fifteen growths for 
ten guineas. 
The competition for some of the Cattleyas was considerable. Oue 
plant of C. Mossiro, with 120 pseudo-bulbs and eighteen flower sheaths,was 
purchased for ten guineas by the Eight Hon. Joseph Chamberlaio, M.P., 
Birmingham. This was said to be a fine variety, and the catalogue price 
was three guineas less. Another plant of the same variety, with 170 
pseudo-bulbs, has gone into the collection of H. Gaskell, Esq , Woolton 
Wood, Liverpool, for ten and a half guineas, being more than double the 
catalogue price. The same gentleman bought two other plants, one with 
106 pseudo-bulbs and sixteen fl iwers, and another with 110 and nineteen 
flower sheaths, for twelve and a half and ten guineas respectively. Also 
two other plants of the same variety with sixty pseudo-bulbs and twelve 
flower sheaths, and the other with forty-nine of the former and the same 
number of the latter, for eleven and ten guineas in the-order named, the 
catalogue price for each being four guineas. Two plants of C. Mossiae 
Arnoldiana, one with seventy pseudo-bulbs and ten flower sheaths, and the 
other with twenty-three of the former and three of the latter, became the 
property of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Dorking, Surrey, for the sums of 
thirty-two and sixteen and a half guineas, being twenty and a half guineas 
more for the two plants than the reserve price. The same gentleman 
became the owner of three very fine plants of C. Percivaliana, one with 
forty-three pseudo-bulbs and nine flower sheaths, another with twenty-one 
of the former and three of the litter, and the third with thirty-six and 
nine respectively, for the sums of twenty-seven, thirteen and a half, and 
eighty guineas. The flowers of the last plant were figured in the “ Orchid 
Album,” vol. 3, plate 144. The catalogue prices for the three plants being, 
in the order referred to, twenty, ten, and fifty guineas each. Mr. Gaskell 
purchased another plant of this variety with twenty p3eudo-bulbs and two 
flower sheaths, said to be A1 by Mr.Percival, for fifteen and a half guineas. 
Messrs. S.md r Si Co. became the owner of C. Percivaliana alba (Reich) 
with ten pseudo-bulbs and two flower sheaths for the sum of twenty 
guineas, also a second with nine bulbs and one flower sheath, for fifteen 
guineas. A plant of O. Skinneri, with 140 pseudo-bulbs and twenty-six 
flower sheaths, passed into the same hands for thirty-two guineas, as well 
as 0. oculata with twenty-eight flower sheaths for forty guineas. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence obtained three plants of C. Mendelii for 70, 48, 
and 38 guineas, the first plant having twenty flower sheaths, the second 
twelve, and the third five. Enoch Harvey, Esq., Riversdale, Aigburth, 
obtained another with forty-four pseudo-bulbs and five flower sheaths, 
said to be a very fine variety, for forty-eight guineas. Mr. Gaskell a dark 
variety for 34 guineas, having sixty pseudo-bulbs and ten flower sheaths. 
A superior variety of C. Mendeli aurea passe 1 into the hands of F. Hunt, 
Esq., Stamford Hill, London, for 22£ guineas. This plant had twenty- 
eight pseudo-bulbs. A plant of C. exoniensis with two leads passed into 
the hands of A. Wilson, Esq., Westbrook, Sheffidd, for 17^ guineas. The 
plant of C. Brymerianum, with twelve pseudo-bulbs and two leads 
(figured in "he “ Orchid Alb«m,” vol. iv., plate 184) for the sum of 
49 guineas, the catalogue price being 25 guineas. C. Mossise Hardyana, 
with ten pseudo-bulbs and two leads (also figured in the “ Orchid Album,” 
vol. iii., plate 145), passed, as well as the above plant, into the Woolton 
Wood collection for 49 guineas. A plant of C. Sanderiana, with seventy- 
five p3eudo-bulbs, 38 guineas; also C, gigas, in a basket, with thirty- 
three pseudo-bulbs, went to the same collection for 13 guineas. Another 
plant of the same variety, with sixteen pseudo-bulbs, was purchased by 
C. W. Scott, Esq., Woodbank, Dumfries, for 16 guineas, the catalogue 
price being less than one-half. Two plants of C. Trianre formosa were 
purchased by Mr. Gaskell for 29 and 20 guineas, the first having seven 
flower sheaths and the latter three. The same gentleman also obtained 
the plant of C. T. Normani for 20 guineas, with three flower sheaths and 
fifty pseudo-bulbs. Sir T. Lawrence also secured a plant of this variety, 
slightly smaller, but with double the number of fliwer sheaths, for 
15j guineas. A plant of C. Triance, with twenty-eight pseudo-bulbs and 
six flower sheathe, parsed into the hands of D. de Yoavrondu, Ullet Road, 
Liverpool, for 10j guinea'. 
Dendrobium Jamedanum, with eight new pseudo-bulbs and forty-four 
old ones has gone to St. Aloans for the sum of 134 guineas. A plant of 
Odontoglossum guttatum, with six pseudo-bulbs and one lead, said to be 
a very fine variety, his been added to the Woolton collection for 
16 guineas, being more than three times the catalogue price. 
Messrs. Sander & Co. obtained a fine plant of Lcelia purpurata alba, 
with 113 pseudo-bulbs and fourteen flower sheaths, for 50 guineas ; Mr. 
Gaskell another having nearly the same number of pseudo-bulbs, ten 
leads and six sheaths for the sum of 40 guineas ; Mr. B. S. Williams a 
third, with fifteen leads and four sheaths, for 10 guineas less than the 
last named price. The same purchaser also obtained L. elegans prasiata, 
with four leads, for 25 guineas ; Mr. Gaskell L. elegans alba, with the 
same number of leads, said to be a grand variety, for 50 guineas. 
L. Phalsenopsis Schilleriana, with nine large leaves and one flower spike 
was secured by Mr. Gaskell for 16 guineas; also to other plants, with 
seven and six leaves, for the sums of 10 and 11 guineas respectively. Vanda 
Sanderiana, with two leads and three or four pairs of leaves, was pur¬ 
chased by the same gentleman for 104 guineas. 
Enough has been given to .'how that the zeal for special varieties has 
not abated since the importation <5f these plants in such vast numbers, and 
their disposal in consequence at comparatively low prices. The prices 
given for some, as will be seen, considerably exceeded the catalogue 
prices, in fact about £500 more was realised by those sold by auction. 
This amount would have been considerably exceeded bnt for the specifi¬ 
cations of sale, which prevented all who had not previously ordered from 
bidding.—W m. BARDNEy. 
ECONOMY IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF CUT FLOWERS. 
Generally speaking, gardeners who have to produce flowers for 
cutting have some idea of economy in using them. They will take care 
to grow such flowers as will remain fresh wher cut for a fair length of 
time, and in re-arranging due care will be taken of such flowers as may 
be found fresh enough to be used again. But from a variety of reasons 
the gardeners in a great many of the smaller establishments are not 
called upon to arrange cut flowers. Often—and very properly—the lady 
of the house has plenty of time, has a taste for, and likes to arrange cut 
flowers herself. Others, as they find the cares and anxieties of the house¬ 
hold and other social duties increase upon them, will give it into the 
hands of a “ lady-help,” or a handy lady's maid, with the good intention 
of saving the time of the gardener. The gardener has generally enough 
to occupy his attention and will seldom grumble at this arrangement, if 
those who are entrusted with it are reasonable in their demands and Bhow 
some regard to economy in their style of arrangements when flowers are 
not very plentiful. Unfortunately this is not always the case. Sometimes 
the demands are insatiable, and as soon as a few flowers begin to fall or 
look faded they are bundled out, fresh and faded together. During 
summer, when flowers are plentiful and do not last so long fresh in a cut 
state, this is perhaps the best thing to do ; but during the dull months 
of winter many gardeners have not the means of forcing large quantities 
of flowers, and for such to witness the waste of flowers practised by those 
who arrange them is grieving in the extreme. 
Another thing gardeners have often to complain of is the enormous 
quantity of flowers some of these amateur decorators will cram into a 
very small space. They take an epergne or vase just as it is, with a little 
water in if, and though they find it difficult to get the flowers to stand in 
the position they would like, yet they have not the ingenuity to perceive 
or are too indifferent to take such steps as would facilitate their task. 
They simply go on sticking in more flowers so that the one supports the 
other, the general result being a crowded mass instead of a light and 
elegant arrangement. It would be well for ladies who do not personally 
see to the arrangement of cut flowers to leave it in the hands of their 
gardener, who will generally contrive to find time, and will be more 
satisfied with the result of his labour. 
I have now jotted down a few hints which may be useful to some of 
your readers who may not have had much experience in this matter ; and 
let us hope that as they improve in the matter of economy they may in 
the same degree advance in taste and style of arrangement. Epergnes 
are rather difficult to deal with, chiefly on account of the extremely 
shallow vessels. A good plan is to fill them up with fine sand and cover 
it over with soft green moss, such as is to be found growing on stumps of 
trees or moist rocks, and the whole saturated with water ; or the sand may 
be covered with Selaginella denticulata, which with care will remain fresh 
for a considerable time and form a pleasant ground for the flowers. For 
the base of the epergne nothing is better as a border than the common 
Maidenhair (Adiantum cuneatum). Get good large fronds and arrange 
them so that the broader part of the fronds rest on the top of the moss 
all round the outside, only little more than half of it overhanging the 
edge. In arranging the flowers use such as are cut with very little wood, 
or none at all—as in the case of Camellias—round the outside, so that they 
may rest on the damp moss. All flowers of a formal character should be 
first arranged thinly, and then sprays of lighter flowers placed between 
them in a free and easy manner. Avoid crowding and place nothing in 
an unnatural position. For instance, it is quite right that we set a truss 
of a Zonal Pelargonium in a prim upright position, but it would be an 
outrage on Nature to do the same with Lapagerias, Passion Flowers, or 
anything that is of a pendant habit. These are seen to better advantage 
hanging from the upper tiers of the epergne. For a border for these 
latter something of a creeping or scandent habit is more suitable than 
Fern fronds. Selaginella uncinata and Lygodium scandens are two 
useful plants for this purpose. 
To facilitate the filling of large china bowls (sometimes used) or 
