
ORCHID PRICE LIST 
CECIL HOUDYSHEL 
In the following price list, we are offer- 
ing only the most desirable species and 
hybrids. Since it is generally conceded 
that orchids are the most beautiful of all 
flowers and that Cattleyas are the most 
beautiful orchids we have vastly enlarged 
our stock and number of varieties, both 
species and hybrids, of Cattleyas. 
Orchids have only recently become flow- 
ers for the amateur. Amateurs had looked 
at them long and longingly but were told 
they could not grow them. Now that they 
know they can, and that magazines like 
the Flower Grower, floral societies and 
individual growers are revealing the se- 
crets of orchid growing, every village and 
town in the U. S. seems to have one or 
more orchid enthusiasts. 
Terms of Sale are the same as those 
published in our catalogs. Briefly, remit 
cash in full with order. No C. O. D. Calif- 
ornia customers must add 3% sales tax. 
All plants are shipped, postpaid except 
those in clay pots. Be sure to send required 
amount for insurance and special handling 
if by mail. It is much better for the cus- 
tomer to have Cattleyas and a few others 
that are in clay pots, shipped by express 
(which we do unless you forbid) as shift- 
ing to paper pots and mailing results in 
considerable damage, usually. Express 
shipments are at your expense. 
Dozen and hundred rates do not apply 
to orchids. 
In the following list of Cattleya species 
and hybrids, we do not always state the 
pot size, but unless so stated the plants 
are all flowering sized plants. Usually 
the size of the pot or pan is 5” or 6” but 
some are larger. Some of the smaller 
species are in 4” pans. 
Bargain Prices. It is frankly admitted 
that you can buy Cattleyas of the same 
varieties at lower prices. But if you were 
buying a hat by mail order and had sever- 
al price lists with a range in price from 
$2.50. to $25.00, would you select the $2.50 
hat, with no means of judging the quality 
and style? 
I have many times lost money on bar- 
gain Cattleyas which I found to be infest- 
ed by scale or a greenhouse aphid or with 
the virus that causes mottled flowers. 
Some were back bulbs with almost no 
front bulbe and which I had to quarantine 
until brot into good health and growth. 
Some costing $10.00 or more had to be 
thrown away. This happens to me be- 
cause I am always looking for means to 
lower prices on first class items. The fol- 
lowing are good rules to go by, regardless 
of prices. 
Buy plants from persons of known in- 
tegrity and good reputation. 
If that is not known to you try small 
initial orders. 
Remember, the best bargain is a good 
quality plant at the right price. 
- JULY 1949 
LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA 
Cattleya Species 
We offer only outstanding species. All 
of them produce very desirable flowers 
and nearly every one will sell to florists 
in competition with hybrids. Very often 
a florist will come to our greenhouse for 
flowers and select species when hybrids 
are also available at the same price. 
Cattleya. amethystina (syn. intermedia) 
slender pseudo-bulbs. 3 to 5 fls., 5” wide, 
pale rose with crisped purple lip, in Apr.- 
June, Sept.-Nov. In 4” pots or larger, $7.50. 
C. Gaskelleana. Summer Cattleya. 2 or 
3 flowered scape. Fils. rose-purple, to 7” 
wide, May-Sept. A fine cut flower orchid. 
$10.00. 
C. gigas. (Syn. Warscewiczii). St. John’s 
Cattleya. The Latin name, ‘gigas’, means 
“giant.” 2 to 7 very large fls. up to 9” 
wide. Rose-violet sepals and petals. Deep 
purple, wavy lip with two yellow spots in 
throat. Bloms May to Aug. One of the 
largest and most beautiful of Cattleyas. 
Likes plenty sun heat when growing and 
a long cool winter resti n a light place. 
For some reason plants are hard to get 
and I can offer only 10 blooming size at 
$12.50 ea. We advise you to buy the follow- 
ing small plants instead. In the end you 
will have better plants and better flowers. 
Greenhouse growers of orchids must 
think well of gigas as they seldom have 
any for sale. But I know a grower who 
is raising 2,000 seedlings of a_ selected 
good variety pollinated by a good variety. 
They should be better than collected jungle 
plants as the latter are variable. I have 
repotted these small plants into 4” pans 
where they will grow for 2 years or poss- 
ibly longer and should flower in 2 or 3 
years. They are overpotted, which most 
growers advise against but we have ob- 
tained more rapid growth and have never 
lost a plant by overpotting. See Culture of 
Cattleyas for advice on growing the small 
plants. Price 4” pans, $3.75 each. Per 5, 
$16.50. Per 10, $30.00. For those who are 
able to shift to larger pots later, we offer 
the small pots. It will also save you on 
the express costs. Price $2.75 ea. 5 for 
$12.50. 10 for $24.00. 
C. labiata. Autumn Cattleya. 2 to 7 fls., 
6”—8” wide on a scape. Bright rose, with 
deep crimson purple, frilled and waved 
lip. Throat marked with yellow. Variable. 
Very showy. $7.50 and $10.00. 
C. Mendelii. Virgins Cattleya. Scape has 
2 or 3 blush white to light rose 6” to 8” 
fls. Lip crimson and rose with yellow 
markings. Usually June but overlaps in 
time. Just right for June brides. $10.00. 
C. Mossiae. Spring Cattleya. Large fils. 
to 8”, 3 to 5 on scape. Typical color light 
to dark rose purple but variable. Usually 
Mar. to June. One of the most beautiful 
and desirable and a standard florist flower, 
Very fragrant, some intensely so. $7.50 
and $10.00. 
