246 ABOUT ORCHIDS. 
to itself where it is doing well, no matter how 
strange the circumstances may appear tous. This 
Catasetum, wafted by the wind, when the seed 
was sown, found conditions suitable where it 
lighted, and quickened, whilst all its fellows, care- 
fully provided for, died without a sign. It thrives 
upon the moisture of the house. Ina very few 
years it will flower. In another case, when all 
hope of the germination of a quantity of seed had 
long been lost, it became necessary to take up the 
wooden trellis that formed the flooring of the 
path; a fine crop of young hybrids was discovered 
clinging to the under side. 
The amateur who has followed us thus far with 
interest, may inquire how long it will be before he 
can reasonably expect to see the outcome of our 
proceedings ? In the first place, it must be noted 
that the time shortens continually as we gain 
experience. The statements followingI leave un- 
altered, because they are given by Messrs. Veitch, 
our oldest authority, in the last edition of their 
book. But at the Temple Show this year Norman 
C. Cookson, Esq., exhibited Catt. William Murray, 
offspring of Catt. Mendellit x Catt. Lawrenceana, 
a lovely flower which gained a first class certi- 
ficate. It was only four years old. 
The quickest record as yet is Calanthe Alex- 
