HISTORY OF ORCHID HYBRIDISATION 



as well as of other species of Orchis which had been forced ; and if I had 

 remained on the spot I think I should have obtained some cross-bred 

 Orchidaceous seed. An intelligent gardener may do much for science by 

 attempts of this kind, if he keeps accurate notes of what he attempts, and 

 does not jump at immature conclusions." This is interesting as the earliest 

 note on the subject that we have met with, and because it appeared at a 

 time when there was a prevalent notion among gardeners that muling 

 among Orchids was an impossibility. The results, however, must be 

 classed among the " might-have-beens," and we may return to Dominy. 



Dominy is said to have commenced his hybridising operations in 1853, 

 with the genus Cattleya, and six years later the first flowers appeared. In 

 August 1859, five seedling plants were exhibited at a meeting of the 

 Horticultural Society by Messrs. Veitch, which were noted as extremely 

 interesting, and as affording the first examples of well-marked and really 

 showy new forms of Orchids produced by hybridisation. They were 

 ultimately named Cattleya X hybrida, and it is unfortunate that Dominy 

 did not carry out Dean Herbert's injunction to keep accurate records, for 

 the parentage of this Cattleya was given first as C. granulosa and C. 

 Harrisoniana, then as C. granulosa and C. Leopoldi, and finally as C. 

 guttata and C. intermedia. C. guttata and Loddigesii are now accepted as 

 the parents. 



A second Cattleya, C. X Dominiana, obtained from C. maxima and C. 

 intermedia, was exhibited in the November following. 



In December, 1859, the beautiful Calanthe X Veitchii, a hybrid between 

 C. rosea and C. vestita, made its appearance, and received a First-class 

 Certificate from the Horticultural Society. This is one of the most 

 popular hybrids yet raised, and is now largely cultivated as a very useful 

 autumn-flowering plant. 



In June, 1861, a fifth hybrid appeared, and also received a First-class 

 Certificate, under the name of Goodyera X Dominii. Its parents were 

 recorded as Goodyera discolor and Anoectochilus Lowii, now known as 

 Haemaria discolor and Dossinia marmorata, and thus was the first generic 

 cross. It was afterwards called Dossinimaria X Dominii, and now seems 

 to have been lost sight of. 



In July, 1862, another ornamental-leaved Orchid was exhibited, under 

 the name of Goodyera X Veitchii, also receiving a First-class Certificate. 

 It was another generic hybrid, its parents being Haemaria discolor and 

 Macodes Fetola. It is now known as Macomaria X Veitchii. 



In September, 1863, the first Laeliocattleya flowered, though the name 

 did not appear till long afterwards. It was exhibited as Cattleya X 

 exoniensis, and its parents were at first given as Cattleya Mossiae and 

 Lcclia purpurata, but the second parent was afterwards corrected to L. 



