Plate 431. 

 CYPRIPEDIUM HARRISIANUM. 



The exquisite drawing by Mr. Andrews faithfully represents 

 one of the latest triumphs of Mr. Dominy's skill, and we cannot 

 do better in recording it, than give the remarks supplied by 

 Mons. H. Eeichenbach jih, to a contemporary. 



This hybrid was obtained by applying the pollen of C. barba- 

 tum, to the stigma of C. viUosim. The colours are much brighter 

 and darker than those of villosmi, and as large as the largest 

 varieties of barbatmn, and in the botanical description given of 

 it, by Mons. R., he shows that it is a true hybrid, partaking 

 very distinctly of the character of both plants ; he then adds : 

 " We have to thank Messrs. Veitch for some of the showiest plants 

 ever obtained in gardens. They have from the beginning can- 

 didly stated what kind of plants they were. May such 

 interesting experiments be often rej^eated ; it is not only the 

 desire of getting valuable camellias we allude to ; no, a higher 

 wish is, that by such continuous experiments we may by-and-by 

 get quite new views about the limits of genera and species ; 

 the grand question about the limits of species will be more and 

 more elucidated by such cross fertilization. Some grave doubts 

 about the limits of genera, apparently weakened by some so- 

 called species, will be solved by the hybrid nature of the inter- 

 mediate connecting links." 



These splendid acquisitions are due to the unrivalled skill and 

 sagacity of Mr. Dominy. And we are told it was Dr. Harris 

 of Exeter, who gave Mr. Dominy the idea of hybi'idizing orchids, 



