56 Correspondence. [voV*^''xxx'v 



THE REPRODUCTION OF FERRESTRIAL ORCHIDS. 

 To the Editor Victorian Naturalist. 



Sir, — In the Victorian Naturalist for February and March 

 last (vol. xxxiv., pp. i6o and 176) is a paper on the above subject 

 by Mr. E. E. Pescott, F.L.S., F.R.H.S. Being interested in 

 the cultivation of orchids, and having had some experience in 

 their growth from seed, I would like to make a few remarks 

 on Mr. Pescott's paper. 



There are few terrestrial species of the genera dealt witli by 

 Mr. Pescott that are worth growing except from a purely 

 scientific point of view. In my collection, beside half a dozen 

 or more exotics, I have three Australian — Phaiiis grandifolius, 

 Calanthc veratrifolia, and SpathogJottis Souteri. The Phaius 

 and Calanthe are referred to in Mr. Pescott's paper. 



Undou]:)tedly terrestrial orchids — and in this all others may 

 be included — very rarcl}' grow from seed in a state of nature. 

 Personally, I think this is a wise provision, considering the 

 immense number of seeds ordinarily produced. 



I cannot endorse the following statements : — " Little is 

 known regarding the seeds of these plants. . . Whether 

 they are germinable ... or whether they are all abortive 

 is not known. Apparently there is no necessity for the pro- 

 duction of seed, owing to the tuberous increase, and apparently 

 the elaborate apparatus or arrangement of the organs is to 

 some extent but a survival of the pollination and fertilization 

 operations of other days." 



It was Darwin's work on orchids that so fascinated me many 

 years since that when I had the opportunity I commenced to 

 grow a few, and since then have largely added to my stock. 

 Though I have not been able to devote as much attention to 

 the subject as I would have liked, I have, however, been 

 successful in raising three varieties of terrestrial orchids from 

 seed, the onl}' ones tried. 



As a matter of fact, a good deal is known about the seeds 

 of orchids — how to raise them, that they are germinable, and 

 that there is a distinct necessity in the economy of the plants 

 for the production of fertile seed. The first orchids raised arti- 

 ficially from seed were terrestrial ones. 



That orchids are very largely reproduced by tubers below 

 the gi-ound (or by stems or bulbs above ground) is perfectly 

 correct ; but that will not account for the wide distribution of 

 the same species where it is not possible, in the course of nature, 

 for the tubers to reach. Then they must grow from seed dis- 

 tributed by natural agencies. — Yours, &c., 



HUGH DIXSON. 



" Abcrgeldie," Summer Hill, N.S.W.. 4th June, 1918. 



