xliv. HYBRIDISING AND RAISING ORCHID SEEDLINGS. 



of the allied species, and some of these with each other, but there is plenty 

 of scope for further experiments, especially in the way of securing greater 

 variety among the hybrids, 



Odontoglossum. — For a long period the genus Odontoglossum 

 furnished the apparent paradox that although natural hybrids were common 

 all attempts to raise them artificially resulted in failure. At length, in 1890, 

 one seedling flowered in the collection of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, at 

 Armainvilliers, near Paris, and a year later a second with Messrs. Veitch. 

 A few other single examples followed, and then M. Ch. Vuylsteke, of 

 Loochristi, Ghent, took tlie genus in hand, and his remarkable success is 

 now known to every hybridist. At the present time they are being raised 

 in numerous collections, with great success. It is probable that the 

 early experiments were conducted on wrong lines, for the seedlings are not 

 difficult to raise where Odontoglossums are well grown, only requiring a 

 little additional care while very small. A slight increase in the amount of 

 heat, shade and moisture seems to be the most important cultural 

 modification to aim at. The seeds should be scattered over the surface of 

 the compost of an established plant, and kept constantly moist and shaded 

 from direct sunlight, when the seeds will soon assume a greenish tinge, and 

 pass through the ordinary stages of germination. It is best to sow seeds on 

 several plants in different positions, and if seedlings do not result some error 

 in treatment may be suspected. When the tiny seedlings are pricked off, 

 the protection of a small hand light is useful until they become well 

 established. A point to remember is that the minute seedlings are very 

 delicate in their earlier stages, and liable to be ruined by a few hours neglect, 

 which would have no effect on older plants. On the opposite page is given 

 a photographic illustration of a group of 600 seedlings raised in the 

 collection of W. Thompson, Esq., Walton Grange, Stone, by Mr. W. 

 Stevens. The suspended pots contain the tiny seedlings, potted in thimble 

 pots and plunged in moss, while the larger ones stand on the stage beneath, 

 one of them (in the back row on the right) being in flower, so that plants 

 in every stage are represented. As regards their culture Mr. Stevens 

 remarks : — 



" I find that seeds germinate pretty freely almost anywhere in a cool 

 house, on pots with other plants, or on calico or flannel placed in pots 

 stuffed tight with moss, but as soon as they have formed a little corm they 

 want to be moved on to pots of moss, and hung up near the light. During 

 winter they require all the light they can get, but as the sun gets more 

 power they require plenty of care and watching, so as not to over-water or 

 shrivel them up. When large enough I single them out into finger pots, 

 and plunge them in larger pots filled with moss, so as to keep them in an 

 equable condition as regards moisture, and when they begin to root they may 



