HYBRIDISING AND RAISING ORCHID SEEDLINGS. xliii. 



When sown on canvas or blocks of wood the germination may be watched 

 from the very commencement, and the process is most interesting. Shortly 

 after sowing the seed begins to swell, and gradually acquires a greenish 

 tinge. Next the testa ruptures, and the minute embryo gradually assumes 

 a globular form, and steadily increases in size. Then some minute root- 

 hairs appear, and a growing point is seen at the apex of the young seedling, 

 from which a minute leaf begins to push. Soon afterwards the first true 

 root appears, after which, with ordinary care, the seedlings may be 

 considered safe, and will gradually develop until the flowering stage is 

 reached. The most critical period seems to be what is termed the thalloid 

 stage, for the seeds will sometimes swell and assume a greenish tinge, and 

 then make no further progress, finally shrivelling up and disappearing, for 

 no apparent reason. The researches of M. Noel Bernard seem to show that 

 the cause of this is the absence of certain microscopic fungi which live in the 

 plant, a point we may go into presentl3% When sown on blocks of wood 

 or canvas the tiny globules sometimes almost cover the surface, and some 

 of them should be pricked off before they choke each other, and in any case 

 this should be done as soon as the first true root begins to push, so that a 

 supply of food is at once available. Thin sowing should be practiced, even 

 if some of the seeds have to be left unused. Cattleyas usually flower from 

 four to six years old, though some mature earlier under favourable treat- 

 ment, and others, especially among the earlier hybrids, have taken much 

 longer to bloom. The tendency is to shorten the period by growing the 

 seedlings on rapidly. The species of Cattleya which have been intercrossed 

 are very numerous, as may be seen by the following pages, but other 

 combinations are possible, and the utilisation of the hybrids themselves as 

 parents offers endless possibilities for the future. Cattleya has also been 

 united with Laelia, Brassavola, Epidendrum, Sophronitis, Diacrium and 

 Schomburgkia, and there is still plenty of scope for further experiments. 



L^LiA may be bracketed with Cattleya as regards treatment, and the 

 remark applies to the allied genera, which cross with each other very freely. 



Sophronitis grandiflora crosses freely with Cattleya and Laelia, but 

 the seedlings are rather delicate, and grow very slowly. The Sophronitis is 

 generally used as the seed-bearer, and the pollen masses of the larger parent 

 have to be cut, being too large for the stigma. 



Epidendrum flowers are rather difficult to manipulate, owing to their 

 small size, and to the fact that the lip is united to the column, but the 

 seedlings are among the easiest to raise, and they begin to flower in the 

 second or third year. The capsules mature very quickly, and no easier 

 subject could be found for a beginner. 



Dendrobium seedlings are not difficult to raise, and begin to flower when 

 three or four years old. The popular D. nobile has been crossed with many 



