ROMANCE OF THE WHITE CATTLEYA.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9344, 19 February 1896, Page 6

ROMANCE OF THE WHITE CATTLEYA.

Frederick Boyle in the Badminton Magazine.

The annals of botany are full of incident and adventure, especially that branch which deals with orchids. All manner of odd references and associations one finds there. I myself, having studied the subject, was not much surprised to meet with a tale of orchids and cock-fighting lately; but others may like to bear how tbe connection arose. The name of the orchid was Catlleija Skinneri alba, one oi the rarest and most beautiful we have; the name of the hero Benedict Roezl, greatest of all collector-. They raised a statue to him in Prague a few years ago, and the Emperor himself was represented at the unveiling. A most extraordinary man was Roezl: born, one would say, for tbe trying and hazardous career he pursued for forty years. . The Cura had'invited Roezl to his house— so to call an adobi building of two rooms, without upper floor. It stood beside the church, hardly less primitive. Roezl glanced at the roof of thia structure in passing. The Indians everywhere have a pleasant custom of removing any orchid they find, notable for size or beauty, to set on the church roof or on-trees around it. In the course of his long wanderings Roezl-had bought or begged several fine plants from a padre, but only when the man was specially reckless or specially influential with his parishioners. The practice dates from heathen times, and the Indians fiercely object to any desecration of their offerings. It was with curiosity rather than hope, therefore, that Roezl scrutinised the airy garden. There were handsome specimens of Cattleya—Skinneri most frequent, of course—Lycaste, Oncidium, and Masdevallia. They had done blooming mostly, but a belated flower showed here and there. In one big clump he saw something white— looked more closely—paused. The plant was Cattleya Skinneri certainly. How should a white flower be there?

All other collectors, perhaps, at that time would have passed on, taking it for granted that some weed had rooted itself amid the clump. But for many years Roezl had been preaching that all cattleyas of red or violet tint, so to class them roughly, must make albino " sports." I believe he had not one instance to cite in proof of his theory, which is a commonplace now. A wondrous instinct guided him—the same that predicted tbat an Oncidium of extraordinary character would be found in a province he had never entered, where, years afterwards the striking One. Harryanum was discovered. Men talked of Roezl V odd fancy with respect, but very few heeded it. He tried various points of view, but nowhere could the flower be seen distinctly. After grumbling and fuming awhile, the Cura left him, and presently he followed. * That reverend person was an object of interest now. At the first opportunity Roezl mentioned that he was seeking a white Flor de San Sebastian, as they name Cattleya Skinneri, for which, he would pay _ good sum ; and asked if there were any in the neighbourhood. The Cnra reolied at once, " You won't get

one here. Many years ago my people found one in the forest, but they never saw another before or since." '• What did they do with it ?" Roezl asked breathlessly. ■' Fixed it on the church, of course." The man was stupid, but in those parts an idiot can see any opening for trade. To suppose that a cock-fighting-.Guatemalan priest could have scruples about stripping his church would be grotesque. If he did not snatch at the chance to make money, when told that the stranger would pay for his whim, it must be because the removal of that plant would be so hazardous that he did not even think of it. Roezl dropped the subject.

They ate—more especially they drank. The leading men of the village came in to hear the story of a cock-fight. Not one word on any other topic was spoken until they withdrew'to bed. But Roezl was not bored after a while. So soon as he grasped tbe situation, his quick wits began speculating and contriving means to tempt the padre. And as he listened to the artless if not innocent discourse of these rustics, gradually a notion formed itself. The issue of the great match had been a disaster all round. In the first place there was an antique feud with the victors. Secondly, their cocks had been defeated so often that for two years past they had lain low, saving their money to buy champion birds at the capital. And this was the result ? In the assurance of triumph they had staked all they could raise upon the issue. That money was lost, and the cocks besides. Utter rout and bankruptcy ! No wonder the priest sent his boy ahead to break the awful news.

Despairingly they speculated on the causes of their bad luck from year to year, and it was in listening to this discussion that Roezl perceived a gleam of hope. The mules arrived with his orchids, and started again in the morning - but he stayed behind. The Cura was more than willing to explain the local system of feeding, keeping, training, and in general of managing cocks. . Roezl went into it thoroughly without comment; but when the leading parishioners assembled at night, as usual, he. lifted up his voice. "My friend," said he, " you are always beaten because you do not understand the tricks of these wily townsmen. What you should import from Guatemala is not champion cocks, but a good cock master, up to date. I'm afraid he would sell you indeed, but there is no other way." They looked at one another asto*anded, but the Cura broke out, "Rubbish! What do we do wrong ? " " Only a fool gives away valuable secrets. If you want my information you must pay for it. But I will tell you one thing. You keep your cocks tied up in a cupboard " — I am giving the sense of his observations— "by themselves, where they get spiritless and bored. Yon have been to Tetonicapan. Is that how they do there ? In every house you see the cocks tied in a corner of the living room, where people come and go, often bringing their own birds with them. Hens enter too sometimes. So they are always lively and eager. This you have seen ! Is it not so ?" " It is," they muttered with thoughtful brows.

" Well, I make 3*ou a present of that hint. If you want any more valuable, you must pay." And he withdrew. Weighty was the consultation doubtless. Presently they went in search of him, the whole body, aud asked his terms.

" You shall not buy on speculation," said Roezl. "Is there a village in.the neighbourhood where they treat their cocks as you do, and could you make a match for next Sunday ? Yes ? Well, then, you shall tie up your birds in a public room, follow my directions in feeding, and so forth. If you conquer, you shall pay mc ; if not, not." " What shall we pay ':" asked the Cura. " Your reverence and all these caballeros shall swear on the altar to give mc the •• hite Flor de San Sabastian -which grows upon the church roof." The end is foreseen. Roezi carried off his White Cattlej-a—the first ever beheld in Europe—and sold it to Mr George Hardy, of Manchester for two hundred aud eighty guineas. * A rare orchid found in Spanish South America.