xl. HYBRIDISING AND RAISING ORCHID SEEDLINGS: 



so many crosses is known. And it is here that the following pages should 

 be specially useful. The hybridist having certain species in flower, and 

 wishing to know whether they have already been crossed, has only to turn to 

 Part I. of the work, where the crosses which have flowered are recorded, with 

 the name of the resulting hybrid, and if it is there, on referring to Part II. he 

 will find the clue to its history. Of course, crosses not recorded may have 

 been made, but not 3'et reached the flowering stage. It should be useful in 

 another way, for certain crosses are worth repeating, especially if the best 

 varieties of the parents can be used, and this is particularly the case with 

 rare hybrids, or those that can only be propagated very slowly. A batch 

 of any good hybrid raised from the best varieties of the parents attainable 

 is sure to yield a few good forms, the best of which can be selected and 

 grown on. 



Hybrids as Parents. — In one respect hybridisation is always likely to 

 remain progressive, for the best of the hybrids can be crossed together, or 

 re-crossed with the original parents, with the object of emphasising desirable 

 qualities or of developing new breaks of colour, and if such further crossing 

 is done with definite objects in view, and the worst forms constantly weeded 

 out, progress is sure to result. One cannot expect more than a certain 

 percentage of superior forms, and the worst should be discarded after being 

 proved. In this work the great variability of secondary hybrids will usually 

 afford plenty of scope for selection. Much has been accomplished already, 

 and the rate of progress is likely to be accelerated in the future. 



It now remains to say something about the individual genera and their 

 peculiarities. 



The Cypripedium group first claims our attention, for its hybrids far 

 outnumber any other, and this is largely due to the ease and certainty with 

 which the seedlings can be raised. Though generally known as Cypri- 

 pedium in gardens, they really belong to Paphiopedilum, for Cypripedium 

 proper comprises the hardy deciduous species, of which no hybrids have 

 been raised artificially, though wild ones are known. The plants known as 

 Selenipedium in gardens also belong to another genus, Phragmopedilum, 

 for Selenipedium proper comprises three tall reed-like plants which are not 

 cultivation. 



Paphiopedilum seedlings are very easily raised. Having obtained 

 capsule of seed, one has only to scatter it over the compost of some plant 

 that will not require potting for some considerable time, keep the compost 

 moist, and await the appearance of the seedlings, which, if the seeds are 

 good and the treatment right, is generally only a matter of time. In the 

 latter respect they are rather erratic, sometimes appearing very quickly, and 

 at others not until the lapse of several months, or even more. The late Mr. 

 Reginald Young has recorded the appearance of seedlings as long as two 



