August 4, 1906 



horticulture: 



103 



Orchid Seedlings 



The most fascinating phase of orchidology is un- 

 doubtedly now the raising of hybrids. The romance of 

 the imported specimen has largely passed, or ha-j been 

 transferred to the not less interesting field at home. 

 "Natural selection" working on seemingly accidental 

 lines has produced many beautiful forms ; what then are 

 the possibilities of intelligent selection guided by n fair- 

 ly large deposit of practical experience? The prrspect 

 is illimitable; thirty years ago Dominy and Sedcn pio- 

 neered the way and already the nomenclature oP hy- 

 brids is the despair of the ordinary mind and, as vis- 

 itors to Messrs. Sanders and Charlesworth's of Eng- 

 land may see, millions of seedlings are on the way. Un- 

 explored regions may still yield new genera or new va- 

 rities of old species, but their interest will largely lie 

 in the scope they offer to the hybridizer; the rediscov- 

 ery of Cypripedium Faireaniim for which such a large 

 sum was offered was purely on account of its value as a 

 parent. The progeny raised before its loss being of 

 such unique form it remained a most desirable variety 

 for ampler exploitation. Typical forms may become 

 rare in many regions, but any fear as to the total ex- 

 tinction of orchids is groundless; the development of 

 hybrids in any case will speedily be the main source of 

 supply which will give nature a chance to replenish her 

 depopulated fields and woods. 



There are strong arguments in favor of hybrids; 

 they are imdoubtedly more vigorous in constitution and 

 more amenable to greenhouse treatment than imported 

 plants. The wise selection of healthy parents, the 

 weeding out of weakly seedlings, the fostering care of 

 the operator, together with the impetus of a new indi- 

 vidualized life, all tend to breed a race, quicker in 

 growth, more free in flowering and altogether more 

 adaptable to treatment. To the amateur there can be 

 no more interesting work than to experiment; there is 

 ample room for all though the possibilities of pecuniary 

 returns are remoter than they were, seeing that every 

 available variety has been or is being worked upon by 

 the trade. 



Sander's revised list of hybrids is an invaluable guide 

 to beginners. There is much pleasure in having a few 

 of one's own on the way; they will need much careful 

 attention but when after patient waiting the flower buds 

 unfold, the pre-natal anxieties are succeeded by the pa- 

 rental joy. Cypripediums, which are the most easily 

 raised, may be flowered in three years, dendrobiums in 

 five years, cattleyas in five or six years, odontoglo.'soms 

 in from seven to nine years ; this is the minimum time, 

 for it must be borne in mind that always a few take the 

 lead but usually the rest follow two years or more after 

 the above dates. Bigeneric crosses are useless except in 

 closely allied species, for, though pods may form, they 

 will not develop true seed and it is a serious drain on 

 the plants. It is useless to try to cross cypripediums 

 with cattleyas or phalaenopsis with odontoglossums, but 

 laelia, epidendrum, sophronites with cattleya and vice 



vera, cochlioda x odontoglossum, phaius x calanthes 

 have been reared. Odontoglossums present the most 

 difficult though profitable orchids to raise. 



Now as to the operation. A strong, healthy plant 

 should be selected as seed parent and the time chosen 

 a bright morning a few days after the flower has opened. 

 Care should be taken to see that the pollen to be trans- 

 ferred be ripe when it will be of a soft, adhesive nature 

 and may be taken by a pointed stick slightly moistened 

 at the tip and placed carefully upon the sticky surface 

 of the stigma, which in the case of cypripediums is on 

 the under side. The pollen of the seed bearer must also 

 be removed; afterwards the flower must be kept dry. 

 The flowers of both parents will speedily wither and it 

 may be taken as a sign that the cross is effected if the 

 bearer withers in four or five days. The seed vessel 

 should now be exposed to full sunlight, but as this in 

 many cases would be fatal to the plant, a piece of pa- 

 per may be slit through the seed stalk to shade the 

 plant ; the seed should be sown at once, and if th;; com- 

 post of the parent plant be in good condition with not 

 too much sphagnum on it, this will serve as the best 

 place to sow. The surface should be moist before sowi 

 ing. With the aid of a microscope the swelling of the 

 tiny globules and the emergence of the first embiyonic 

 leaf may be noted; when large enough to handk they 

 may be pricked off round the side of thumb pots which 

 should be prepared some months beforehand, plunging 

 these in a larger pot and placed in a moist shady posi- 

 tion. Wliere practicable the best place for seedlings is 

 a low warm stove, with a water tank in place of stage, 

 placing strips of wood across for the young plant- . The 

 advantage of this method is that the plants are kept 

 moist without frequent watering, which often is fatal 

 to the tiny plants. The seedlings delight in a soft, 

 sweet, well-broken compost of peat, moss and sand with 

 ample drainage and not too much pot room the first 

 two years, after which their progress will be very rapid 

 under normal conditions. The flowering may always 

 offer a great surprise, but though very beautiful the 

 variety may not be specially valuable, but the undoubt- 

 ed vigor of hybrids make them desirable additions for 

 cut flower purposes. 



The demand fo- rare hybrids is still growing and 

 they are eagerly sought at fancy prices, but it may be 

 said to rest upon somewhat unstable foundations, but 

 orchids for the purposes of cut flowers have a more as- 

 sured and permanent future; their lasting value is 

 widely known, they give a touch of distinction to all 

 floral arrangements and, covering during their flower- 

 ing period every month in the year, they meet a great 

 need in the floral department. There is a growing de- 

 mand for orchids at popular prices, and the day is not 

 far distant when the growing of hybrids of free flower- 

 ing varieties will be a large and profitable source of in- 



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