HYBRIDISATION AND ITS FAILURES. 87 
Lelias will cross freely with the Mexican Lelia albida, autwmnalis 
majalis, rubescens (better known in gardens as acuminata), ke. 
Numerous crosses have been effected both ways, and capsules have been 
produced, but the seed has always proved barren.’’* 
Similarly, Mr. Salter, of Woodhatch, writes me: ‘ Dendrobium 
Phalenopsis, var. Schroederianum, was crossed with D. Ainsworthii, 
D. formosum, D. Cassiope, and D. heterocarpum, and the fertilisation 
seemed perfectly ‘successful; and the pods swelled in the ordinary 
manner until the ripening season. When, however, they were split 
open, there was no seed, only a kind of fluff [hypertrophied hairs| upon 
the internal ridges of the pods.” 
Sophronitis violacea and S. grandiflora have both been crossed. 
reciprocally, by Mr. Veitch; but although capsules were formed no 
fertilisation had taken place. 
Empty capsules also resulted from crossing Vanda tricolor with species 
of Angrecum and Phalenopsis. So too between species of Phalaenopsis. 
P. Luddemanniana, the male parent of some of the finest hybrids of 
this genus raised, has been crossed with the pollen of well-nigh every 
species of P. in cultivation; but nothing has yet resulted therefrom. 
The application of the pollen of species of P. to the stigma of 
P. Ludd. stimulates the ovary into growth, but seems to be impotent 
to fertilise the ovules. Similar results have attended P. violacea when 
used as the female parent, with the single exception of the hybrid 
P. Ludd. violacea raised from it, and P. Ludd., male. The above result, 
which is Mr. Veitch’s experience, was repeated in the cases of Cyii- 
bidiwm male x C. Lowianum, C. gigantewm, and C. Traceyanum; and 
several other genera gave similar results. 
Lastly, Campanula Van Houttei, believed to be a hybrid, as it is 
generally barren, was crossed by Mr. E. Scaplehorn with C. mirabilis. 
The ovary enlarged and contained ovules, but the latter were deformed, 
yet much larger than in the case of those not crossed, proving that a 
partial impregnation had taken place. A similar result followed on 
crossing the first named with C. medium. 
A general result is seen in a hybrid, or bi-gener, vegetating freely 
and healthily, but failing in various degrees in its reproductive system. 
It may show in its leaves &c. every intermediate character, or none at all, 
being exactly, to all appearances, like one of the parents. Results of 
this kind have followed attempts to cross Geraniums with Pelargoniums, 
Abutilon with Hibiscus, Raspberry with Strawberry, and Gooseberry with 
Black Currant. With regard to the last two, the former of them has 
flowered but borne no fruit, while the latter has borne fruit as well. 
Fause INFERENCES FROM FaILuRES.—That a cross may fail in one 
season and not in another shows that no absolute rule can be laid down, 
as in the following case in the experience of Dr. Bonavia, who writes me 
as follows: ‘ When in India I imported a Dutch Hippeastrum. It 
flowered. At the same time I had a large number of Lucknow 
Hippeastrums in flower. I endeavoured to cross the Dutch H. with 
the Indian ones; but no result occurred either with the Dutch pollen or 
the reverse. I tried the same experiment in the next year, again with 
* Gard. Chron. May 16, 1885, p. 630. 
