FOREWORD 
For those who may not know the historical background of Armacost and Royston, we present a 
brief sketch with the thought that it may aid in your decision of where and what to purchase for your 
orchid plant collection. 
The hybridizing and growing of Orchids was started in 1921 by the late Mr. Walter Armacost in 
partnership with Mr. F. E. Royston. One of the pioneer firms in the United States in this field, the 
program has been carried on with vigor until it has become the largest producer of Orchid Plants 
in the country. Our stud books now record near ten thousand crosses of various genera made here 
in our greenhouses during the past 30 years. Over half of these were Cattleya crosses with Cypri- 
pediums and Cymbidiums making up the major portion of the balance. We believe such ‘a back- 
ground to be of the utmost value in determining what combinations may prove worthwhile. 
This catalog groups all three of our specialties, listing and describing our current offerings. 
The first large group of plants listed is the Cattleya. We have forty-six greenhouses devoted to 
this genera for the production of seedlings and plants for sale as well as cut flower production. 
The second large group, in which we have six greenhouses of mature plants, is the Cypripedium. 
Our records contain over twelve hundred varieties of this genera from the common insigne to the 
finest hybrids obtainable suitable for breeding, private collections, show purposes and commercial 
cut flower production. Prices quoted in this group are for plants large enough to bloom. 
Cymbidiums comprise the third large collection of plants grown, with eight greenhouses de- 
voted to seedlings and cut flower production and five acres under lath for growing plants. These 
beautiful long-lasting flowers are easy to grow and should be found in every collection. We have 
Several hundred varieties but space does not permit a complete listing. In addition to the varieties 
listed we have many of the finest hybrids bred from Pauwelsii, Comte de Hemptinne, Alexanderi, 
Westonbirt, etc., available from back bulb divisions to specimen plants. Color descriptions given 
are, of course, very general due to the tremendous variation in Cymbidiums. When plants are pur- 
chased in flower, flower spikes will be charged at the rate of $2.50 per spike for varieties having 
but few flowers and $5.00 per spike for the many flowering types in addition to the plant price. 
We do not lay particular stress on the fact that some of the parent plants we use have been 
awarded a First Class Certificate or an Award of Merit by the Royal Horicultural Society. This is 
not because we depreciate the value of these awards but it is a well established fact among breeders 
of long standing that such awarded plants do not always produce the best hybrids. In the course 
of almost thirty years we have developed and proven a number of stud plants to a point where we 
know that they will produce the results we are after. We do have a large stock of awarded plants 
and are constantly adding to them but they alone do not guarantee consistently good results. How- 
ever, when used with what we may term our "private stud'’ which has been developed by genera- 
tions of our own breeding, the combination gives us the assurance of the quality that you and we want. 
Descriptions are of necessity brief, but we believe adequate, although, of course, we will be 
glad to give additional information with regard to any of the items. 
ARMACOST & ROYSTON, INC. 
Spring, 1950 LOS ANGELES 25, CALIFORNIA 

