ii. PREFACE 



followed by the name of the resulting hybrid. The name of the first parent 

 (in the alphabetical series) is given in heavy type in the centre of the 

 column, and all the species with which it has been crossed are arranged 

 alphabetically on the left, with the resulting hybrid on the right. Each 

 parent appears again in its own alphabetical position, and thus the hybrids 

 of any given species appear all together (those of a later date, of course 

 appearing in the Addenda, which should also be consulted). Take Brassa- 

 vola Digbyana, for example : — Eighteen hybrids of it appear on page i — 

 where also are found the eighteen species with which it has been crossed, 

 in alphabetical order — but there are nineteen additions on page 239, so 

 popular is this species as a parent. The name of the hybrid appears to the 

 right of the second parent, and necessarily occurs twice, as may be seen 

 under Aerides on page i, where the two parents of A. X hybridum follow 

 each other immediately, but in the very next case, Zygonisia X Rolfeana, 

 they are separated by the whole width of the alphabet. Having found the 

 name of the hybrid by means of its parents, one turns to Part II., where its 

 history and other details are given. Part I. serves the double purpose of 

 indicating the name of any given hybrid whose parents are known, and of 

 shewing with what others a given species has been crossed. 



Part II. contains, (i) an alphabetical enumeration of existing hybrids, 

 each under its adopted name, followed by (2) the names of its parents, 

 (3) references to descriptions and figures, (4) the name of the raiser or 

 exhibitor, (5) date of first flowering, and (6) synonymy, these being followed 

 in a few cases by (7) a short additional note. A few explanatory details 

 must now be given under these several headings. 



I. Names. — In all cases we have aimed at adopting the earliest 

 correct name, but this is not invariably the name first published. Part II. 

 commences with a few suggestions for securing greater uniformity of 

 practice than at present exists, and the following paragraph may be repeated, 

 as it has been our guide throughout : — 



" Hybrids raised between species should receive specific names, Latin or 

 classical, consisting of a single word — the use, however, of two short words 

 being permissible where they can be connected with a hyphen. Short 

 names should be used for preference, those exceeding six syllables being 

 considered inadmissible." 



Where the earliest name agrees with this proposition it has been adopted 

 unmodified, but if not in agreement an attempt has been made to amend 

 it. Thus the hybrid between Cattleya Dowiana and C. Eldorado appears 

 as C. X Ingramise, not as C. X Lady Ingram, the earlier form of the 

 name, and this in spite of the fact that another name, C. X Suzannse, is 

 already in correct form. The latter appeared five years later, and remains, 

 as it has always been, a synonym. Similar names in the vernacular have 



