FERTILIZATION OF CATTLEYA LABIATA. . 399 
of Cattleya labiata, var. Mossia, were selected for pollination: the 
flowers were divided into three equal sets of fifteen each, of which 
one set was fertilized with their own pollen ; a second set with the 
pollen of different flowers but of the same variety ; the third set was 
fertilized with the pollen of flowers of a different species (Lelia 
purpurata, Lindl.), the whole of the pollinia being applied in 
every case. The object of so varying the circumstances was to 
ascertain whether the fertilization of the ovules and subsequent 
ripening of the seed would be in any way differently influenced 
or affected thereby. We shall see in the sequel that no material 
differences were observable, or at least, when any were noticed, 
they were of too trivial a nature to be taken into account. At 
the time the operation was performed the weather was fine and 
bright, and continued so for several days afterwards. Two days 
afterwards the flowers were examined, and one from each group 
was cut. The floral segments had already become flaccid, and 
showed signs of rapidly withering. Under the usual cultural 
treatment, the flowers of a Cattleya of the labiata group retain 
their freshness after expansion for upwards of three weeks, and 
even a month in cloudy weather; hence the effect of pollination 
on the floral segments is here made perceptible within a few 
hours. The pollinia in each case were found to be in course of 
disintegration, forming, with the viscid secretion from the stigma, 
a gelatinous mass that quite filled up the stigmatic cavity. On 
examination under the microscope, Fig. 5. 
it was found in all three cases 
that the pollinia were breaking up 
into groups, generally of four gra- 
nules, from some of which short 
tubes had already protruded; in the 
case, however, of. the flower fertilized 
with the pollen of Lelia purpurata 
only a few such groups could be de- 
tected, and from these the tubes had 
but just started. In fig. 5 four of 
these groups of granules, with their 
tubes, are represented, as seen under 
the highest power at our disposal, that 
18, magnified 170 times. ; 
Two days later we again examined. 
a flower from each set. The columns were found to be slightly 
