hoping that Steyermark may be able to spend some time 
in the region* 
I was fortunate in having the assistance of Dr. J. 
R. Johnston, who took me on numerous trips with his car. 
His enthusiasm is unlimited, especially in regard to or¬ 
chids. His health is not good at present, and 1 fear he 
may not be able to keep up his work much longer. Mrs. 
Lewis is a delightful woman. With her family of four child¬ 
ren, I don't know, how she manages to give so much time 
to orchids, but she certainly knows those she has found, 
and spends; much time hunting for them. Her husband is, I 
think, almost as interested, although he professes a pro¬ 
found scorn for the subject. The few people residing in 
Guatemala who have any interest in botanical matters de¬ 
serve every encouragement, for they have so little to help 
them in their work, and no local encouragement. There are 
in the whole country probably not more than five people 
who have any active interest in botanical work, and the 
interest of at least one of those is rather superficial. 
However, considering the status of local scientific work 
in Central America? generally, it is a wonder that there 
are even these few. 
I saw the usual abundance of Cattleya Skinneri, and 
for the first time ^ycaste Skinneri. The latter is surely 
plentiful about Coban. In the houses there are many 
fine specimens, and some gorgeous plants of the albino 
form, national flower of Guatemala. The Indians bri^g 
great loads of the common form of L. Skinneri to Coban 
and sell them at one cents per plant or less. The albino 
plants range in price from $2.50 upward, so they must be 
rather rare. That is a large sum of money in a region 
where workers on the coffee fincas often receive only six 
cents a day! 
