The Woodlands Orchids Part 24

_Crispum Cooksoni_, on the other hand, is white, superbly spotted, or rather blotched, with crimson brown. Perhaps the best of its cla.s.s.

_Crispum Reginae._--Immense. White. The handsome spots, of purplish brown, are more regularly disposed than usual.

_Crispum Chestertoni._--Peculiar for a yellow lip, while sepals and petals are white; the former of these heavily splashed, and the latter sprinkled, with red-brown. The lip has a brown blot on the disc.

_Rossii aspersum_ is a natural hybrid of Od. Rossii and Od. maculatum, as is supposed. Sepals and petals faintly yellow, spotted with brown at the base; lip creamy white.

_Pescatorei alb.u.m._--Large. All pure white.

_Pescatorei superb.u.m._--A round flower, of great 'substance'--which means, in effect, that it will last an unusual time. Notable for the deep tone of its purplish markings.

_Pescatorei grandiflorum._--Immense. The lip has a yellow dash at base.

_Pescatorei splendens._--Sepals and petals white; lip handsomely spotted with purple.

_Pescatorei violaceum._--The whole flower is tinted with violet.

_Crispum purpureum_ shows a similar peculiarity, but the tint is purple.

_Crispum Dayanum._--The sepals have a large irregular patch of darkest mauve in the centre, the petals a spot or two of the same colour and a streak at the base. The lip is white.

Old-fas.h.i.+oned people have not yet learned to call Odontoglossum vexillarium a Miltonia. To avoid confusion I will give it no generic name at all. It should be observed, however, that in our collection these plants are 'grown cool' all the year round. Among the most important are:--

_Vexillaria Cobbiana._--Pale rose with white lip.

_Vexillaria Measuresiana._--All white save the golden 'beard.' Perhaps the handsomest of its rare cla.s.s.

_Vexillaria rubella._--Deep rose. Valuable for its habit of flowering in autumn.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ODONTOGLOSSUM, ROSSII MAJUS _WOODLANDS VARIETY._]

STORY OF ODONTOGLOSSUM HARRYANUM

Men supremely great in science have a quality beyond reason, such as we term instinct, enabling them to leap over the slow processes of demonstration, and announce a law or a result unsuspected, which they cannot yet prove. The great Collector Benedict Roezl had this gift.

Returning from the memorable expedition in which he discovered the Miltonia commonly called Odontoglossum vexillarium, he a.s.sured Mr. Sander that in those parts would be found a true Odontoglossum of unusual colouring. When asked the grounds for his opinion he could only say he 'smelt it.' Mr. Sander was not unused to this expression, and he knew by experience that Roezl's scientific nose might be trusted. It was something in the air, in the 'lie' of the country, in the type of vegetation, which guided him, no doubt. Other collectors born and bred have a like sense.

Roezl showed his supremacy by the confident prediction that this new species would be darker than any known, and striking in the combination of its tints.

This was in 1875. Ten years later Professor Reichenbach wrote to Mr.

Sander of an astounding Odontoglossum he had seen--it may be necessary to tell the unlearned that Professor Reichenbach was the very genius of orchidology. Nothing in the least resembling it had been even rumoured hitherto. And then Reichenbach described Odontoglossum Harryanum. The raptures of that enthusiast were wont to divert admiring friends, expressed with quaint vehemence, but always suggesting that he mocked himself the while. Never had he such a theme as this. Speaking with due thought and sufficient knowledge, I declare that Odontoglossum Harryanum is the most finished result of Nature's efforts to produce a flower which should startle and impress by its colours alone, without eccentricity of shape or giant size, or peculiarities of structure. Remembering that not all the world has seen this flower, I should give just a hint of the means employed. Fancy, then, eight or ten great blooms, dark chestnut in tone, barred with yellow, striped with mauve; the lip white, broadly edged with a network of bluish purple and intersected by a deep stain of that tint, beyond which is spread a sheet of snow; touch with gold here and there, and you have the 'scheme of colour.' Those who knew the great savant can imagine how he raved after giving, with luminous precision, his scientific report of the new orchid.

Reichenbach persuaded himself, by study of the flower, that it must be a native of Mexico. He was wrong for once, but people were so used to regard him as infallible that Mr. Sander did not think of doubting the a.s.sertion.

Presently, however, it became known that Messrs. Veitch had bought the plants, a dozen or so, from Messrs. Horsman. And then Mr. Sander learned by accident that the latter firm received a small case of orchids from Barranquilla, twelve months before. While pondering this news, Roezl's unforgotten prophecy flashed into his mind. Barranquilla, in the United States of Columbia, is the port of that district where Odontoglossum vexillarium is found! He had a collector not far away. Within an hour this gentleman, Mr. Kerbach, received a telegram short and imperative: 'Go Amalfi.' Not waiting an explanation Kerbach replied 'Gone!'--reached Amalfi in due course, and found another telegram containing a hint that sufficed, 'New Odontoglossum.'

Kerbach began to inquire the same day. It was hardly credible that an orchid of importance could have been overlooked in the neighbourhood of Amalfi, where collectors--French, Belgian, and English--had been busy for years. A hunt there would be very unpromising. Kerbach wandered about, asking questions. Thus at Medellin he made acquaintance with a Bank clerk.

It may be noted, by the way, that the inhabitants of that busy and thriving town, the bulk of them, are descendants of Maranos--that is, Jews converted by the processes of the Inquisition. Doubtless there are records which explain why and how many thousands of those people a.s.sembled in a remote district of New Granada, but they themselves appear to have lost the tradition; they have lost their ancestral faith also, for there are no more devout Catholics. The religious instincts of the race a.s.sert themselves, however, for New Granadans in general are not more fervent than other creoles of South America, while the town of Medellin is an oasis of piety.

The Bank clerk was questioned as usual, though not a likely person to take note of plants. 'Why,' said he, 'there was a customer of ours at the Bank yesterday, swearing like a wild Indian at orchids and everybody connected with them. I should advise you to keep out of his way.'

'What have the orchids done to him?' asked Kerbach.

'I wasn't listening, but I'll inquire.' And presently he brought the explanation. A young French collector had been in those parts some years before. He stayed a while at the planter's house, and there discovered an orchid which stirred him to enthusiasm. After gathering a quant.i.ty he made arrangements with his host for a s.h.i.+pment to follow next season, promising a sum which astonished the native. But this young man was drowned in the Couca. After a while Don Filipe resolved to despatch a few of the weeds on his own account to Europe, and he consigned them to a friend at Barranquilla. But the friend never returned him a farthing. He had handed the case to some one else for s.h.i.+pment, and this some one, he said, could not get his money from England. It is pleasant to hear, however, that Don Filipe had implicit trust in British honesty. He proclaimed his friend a swindler, and doubtless he was right.

All the cash that this good man was out of pocket could not well have exceeded ten dollars, and his time did not count. Perhaps he would have been less furious had the loss been greater. Anyhow he nursed his wrath with Indian stubbornness--for Don Filipe was an Indian, though distinguishable from a white only in character, as are myriads at this day.

Kerbach did not doubt that he had found his Odontoglossum, and gaily started for the hacienda. Some little diplomacy might be needed, and rather more cash than usual; but of course a sane man would come to terms at last. Don Filipe was absent when he arrived--a fortunate chance, perhaps. Meantime Kerbach entertained the ladies, played with the children, and made himself agreeable. The haciendero found him seated at the piano, and applauded with the rest.

But his face changed when they got to business. Kerbach opened with flattering remarks upon the wealth of the country and its prospects. Don Filipe purred with satisfaction. Gradually he worked round to orchids. Don Filipe ceased to purr, and he hastily begged leave to visit the cacao plantation. As they rode through the sheltering woods Kerbach looked about him sharply. It was too late for flowers, but the growth of Odontoglossum Harryanum is very distinct. He espied one plant and recognised it as a new species.

The trouble must be faced, and after dinner Kerbach explained his object, as gently as he could. The planter flamed out at once, dropped his Castilian manners, and vowed he would shoot any man found gathering orchids on his estate. Kerbach withdrew. Next day he visited two other hacienderos of the district. But Don Filipe had preceded him. Less rudely but with equal firmness the landowners forbade him to collect on their property.

A brief explanation is needed. In those parts of South America, where the value of orchids is known to every child, a regular system has been introduced long since. As a rule almost invariable, the woods belong to some one, however far from a settlement. With this personage the collector must negotiate a lease, as it is called, a formal doc.u.ment, stamped and registered, which gives him authority to cut down trees--for the peons will not climb. At the beginning, doubtless, they shrewdly perceived that to fell a stout trunk would pay them infinitely better--since they receive a daily wage--than to strip it, besides the annoyance from insects and the risk from snakes which they elude. At the present time this usage has become fixed.[2]

Without the a.s.sistance of peons, Kerbach could not possibly get plants sufficient to s.h.i.+p. To cut down trees without authority would be a penal offence, certainly detected. He explored the country at a distance and found nothing. It was necessary to come to terms with Don Filipe at any cost or abandon the enterprise. Meantime letters reached Amalfi describing the new Odontoglossum, with a picture showing the foliage. It was that he had found. The treasure hung within reach, and a pig-headed Indian forbade him to grasp it.

In such a difficulty one applies to the Cura. Kerbach paid this gentleman a visit. A tall, stout, good-natured ecclesiastic was he, willing to help a stranger, perhaps, even though unprovided with the dollars which Kerbach offered 'for the poor,' if his mediation proved successful. The Cura made the attempt and failed signally. It was useless to try again. The good man begged ten dollars, or five, or one, upon the ground that he had done his best. But Kerbach in despair was not inclined for charity. The Cura sighed, hesitated, tossed off a gla.s.s of aguardiente and proposed another way.

'This is a wicked country, sir,' he said. 'Ah! very wicked. And the wickedest people in it have a proverb which I shudder to repeat. But your case is hard. Well, sir, they say (heaven forgive them and me!), "If the saints won't hear you, take your prayer to the devil." Horrible, isn't it?'

'Horrible!' said Kerbach. 'But I don't know where to find the devil.'

'Yours is a pious country I have heard, though not Christian. In this wicked land even children could tell you where to seek him. Now, you will give me a trifle for my poor?' And he held out his hand.

'But I'm not acquainted with any children. Your reverence must really be more explicit.'

'Bother!' exclaimed his reverence, or some Spanish equivalent. 'Well, you will pay me the fifty dollars promised?'

'Twenty! When Don Filipe signs the lease.'

'And all incidental expenses? Then my sacristan will call on you to-morrow. Never talk to me again of your impious projects, sir.'

The sacristan was very business-like. He demanded a dollar to begin with for the Indian who would work the charm, and another dollar for himself to pay for the ma.s.ses which would expiate his sin. Kerbach asked details, which were given quite frankly. The wizard was a respectable person--attended church, and so forth. The sacristan had talked matters over with him and neither doubted of success. Kerbach must write a letter to Don Filipe's wife begging her to intercede. The wizard having charmed that doc.u.ment before presenting it, she would be compelled to grant its request. If the planter should still refuse, a curse would be launched against him. And he could not dare resist that.

The man was so serious, he explained himself in such a matter-of-fact tone, that Kerbach, laughing, risked two dollars on the chance. With the letter in his pocket the sacristan departed. Two days later he returned.

Don Filipe was willing to negotiate the lease. Kerbach was so delighted that he never thought of asking whether the lady's gentle influence or the terrors of the curse had persuaded him. Thus Odontoglossum Harryanum was found, to the eternal glory of Roezl.

MASDEVALLIAS

Among Masdevallias we have scarce varieties of Harryana, as _Bull's Blood_, Mr. Bull's punning name for the darkest of all crimsons, and _Denisoniana_, which keen eyes distinguish from it by a shade of magenta; _splendens_, pure magenta; _versicolor_, which has patches of deep crimson on a magenta ground, and a bright yellow 'eye'; _Armeniaca_, large, apricot in colour, also with a yellow 'eye'; _Sander's Scarlet_, which speaks for itself.

_Bonplandii._--Greenish yellow, with a few purple marks. Tails short and stiff.