^^. HYBRIDISING AND RAISING ORCHID SEEDLINGS. 



situated in a shallow cavity in front of the column, just below the anther, but 

 in Cochlioda there are two stigmas, which thus become parfally lateral, 

 while in the Cypripedium group the stigma is the sh.eld-shaped body 

 situated on the underside of the column mside the lip, on the opposite s,de 

 to the staminode. The stigma may generally be recogmsea by rts shmy 

 viscous surface, but in the Cypripedmm group it is dry, the pollen here 

 being viscous. Having identified the parts we may proceed to describe the 



PoLLix.TioN OF THE FLOWER.-Having Selected the flower that is 

 intended to be fertihsed, the first thing to be done is to remove its own 

 pollen-generally a very simple task, but in those genera which have powdery 

 pollen ca\-e should be taken that no grains are left behind or the flower 

 mi^ht be self-fertilised. Next take the pollen that is intended to be used 

 and applv it to the stigma, to which it wih adhere, and the process of 

 poUinatio; is complete. The reverse cross may be effected at the same 

 iime if the pollen from the first flower is then applied to the stigma of the 

 second In fertilising small flowers with pollen from larger ones it is some- 

 times found that the pollen masses are too large to enter the stigma entire, 

 and then it is necessary to cut them, and use only a portion, and conversely 

 in reversing the operation the pollen of more than one flower is sometimes 

 used. Crosses between Cochlioda and Odontoglossum and between 

 Sophronitis and similar large flowers are examples. 



Recording the CROSS.-The details of the cross should now be 

 entered in a note-book, with a number, which latter should be written on a 

 small tag, and tied loosely on to the pedicel of the flower. Crosses should 

 be numbered consecutively, and carefully entered, space being left unde 

 each for future use, as success or failure, the sowing of the seed, &.c. Al 

 records should be carefully kept, as the correct parentage is of great 

 importance when the seedlings flower. One should not trust to memory for 



these details. . , 



Effect of PoLLiNATioN.-The effect of polhnation-if the cross has 

 taken-wiU soon be apparent, in the floral segments fading prematurely and 

 the column and ovary beginning to swell, and the chief thing to be done is 

 to keep the plant healthy, and avoid checks and over-stimulation, so that 

 the capsule may develop properly. A matter which sometimes perplexes 

 beginners at this stage is that capsules will swell to a considerable size and 

 then go off prematurely, or when they open they may be empty or contam 



only a mass of chaff without good seeds. The reason is frequently that 



fertilisation proper has not taken place, and an explanation of the process 



will make this point clear. 



Fertilisation proper does not take place immediately. When an 



Orchid flower opens the ovules are undeveloped, and, in this state, are 



