HISTORY OF ORCHID HYBRIDISATION. 



crispa. This parentage was ultimately confirmed by a repetition of the 

 cross. 



In May, 1864, the first hybrid Laelia appeared, though it was exhibited 

 under the name of Cattleya X Pilcheri. Its parents were Laelia crispa and 

 L. Perrinii, and it must have been one of Dominy's earliest hybrids, for it 

 is said to have been raised in 1853. It is now known as Lselia X Pilcheri. 

 In May, 1865, another ornamental-leaved hybrid appeared, and received 

 a First-class Certificate under the name of Anoectochilus X Dominii. Its 

 parents were Hsemaria discolor and Anoectochilus Roxburghii (xantho- 

 phyllus), and the plant has since been named Anoectomaria X Dominii, 

 being the third generic hybrid in the Anoectochilus group. 



Early in 1867 another interesting generic hybrid flowered, its parents 

 being Phaius grandifolius and Calanthe vestita. It was described by 

 Reichenbach under the name of Phaius X irroratus, as " one of the 

 beautiful evidences of Mr. Dominy's unrivalled talent in hybridising Orchids. " 

 It was not until i86g that a hybrid Cypripedium appeared, when C. 

 X Harrisianum flowered for the first time. It was raised from C. villosum, 

 fertilized with the pollen of C. barbatum, and was named by Prof- 

 Reichenbach after Dr. Harris, of Exeter, who first gave Mr. Dominy the 

 idea of hybridising Orchids. It is now called Paphiopedilum X 

 Harrisianum, the tropical species being generically distinct. 



In 1870 Cypripedium X Dominianum was described by Reichenbach, 

 as a hybrid derived from C. caricinum fertilized with the pollen of C. 

 caudatum. The author gave the alternative name of Selenipedium X 

 Dominianum, thus adding a new genus to the list. It has since, however, 

 been called Phragmopedilum X Dominianum, for it is now known that the 

 genus Selenipedium proper is not in cultivation. 



In the same year the first hybrid of Cypripedium Fairrieanum flowered, 

 and was described by Reichenbach under the name of C. X vexillarium, as 

 " one of the surprises which Mr, Dominy prepares for the Messrs. Veitch. " 

 C. barbatum was the seed parent. It is now referred to Paphiopedilum. 



Early in 1871, Mr. Burbidge published in the Gardeners' Chronicle a list 

 of the Hybrid Orchids raised up to that period, in which occurs the name 

 of Aerides X hybridum, raised from A. affine and A. Fieldingii, thus adding 

 another genus to the list. There is no clue to the date, and we do not 

 know of another record, nor yet what became of the plant. 



The first successful follower of Mr. Dominy appears to have been Mr. 

 Cross, gardener to Lady Ashburton, of Melchet Court, Hampshire, who 

 obtained Cypripedium X Ashburtonise by crossing C. barbatum with the 

 pollen of C, insigne. It flowered and was described in 1871. Two years 

 later he added C. X Crossianum, obtained from C. insigne crossed with 

 the pollen of C. venustum. They were the first hybrids from C. insigne, 



