55 



HYBRID O.RCHIDS. 



THE hybrid Orchids obtained within the past forty years constitute an 

 important addition to the number of attractive cultivated forms, no le*s 

 than 125 having been raised in that period, and the majority are dis- 

 tinguished by characters amply sufficient to command the attention <-f all 

 who admire this variable family of plantp, some like Calanthe Veitchi 

 and Cypripedium Sedeni ranking amongst the most useful Orchids. Tbe 

 first recorded hybrid Orchid was one observed by M. Wed .1 ell on the 

 Continent about 1841, which was described as possessing a combination f 

 the characters of Aceras anthropophora and Orchis militarip, and was 

 therefore regarded as a probable natural hybrid between those species. 

 A.S Orchids were then coming much into favour, it is not surprising that 

 some observant cultivators should have given, what proved a difficult 

 matter namely, a little attention to raising them from seed, and though 

 several engaged in this, it appears that the principal success was attained 

 in the Glascevin Botanic Gardens, where from 1845 to 1850 numbers of 

 plants were so raised. De*n Herbert also experimented in artificial 

 hybridising amongst Orchids about the same time, but though he states 

 that pods were secured from crossing an Orchis with pollen from an 

 Ophrys, it does not seem that he succeeded in raising plants from the 

 seed. He, however, mentions having seedling Cattleyas, Bletias, Ophrys, 

 and Herminium. The first substantial results of such experiments were 

 reserved for Mr. Domi >y, who commenced hybridising in Messrs. Veitch 

 and Sons' nursery at Exeter in 1853, and first obtained some seedling 

 Uattleyas. Owing, however, to the quicker growth of some other seed- 

 lings whicn appemed subsequently, Calanthe Domini was the first to 

 flower in October 1856, and was followed by C. Veitchi in 1859. About 

 twenty others were selected from others which flowered in succeeding 

 years, and were found sufficiently distinct to merit new names. Since 

 then Mr. Seden has been remarkably successful in Messrs. J. Veitch and 

 Sons' nursery at Chelsea, where large numbers of seedlings have been 

 raised, and up to the present time over s'xty handsome hybrids have been 

 flowered and named. It is surprising that amateurs have done so little, 

 for comparatively few have paid any attention to the matter. Amongst 

 those, however, who have made^ome good additions to the list, must be 

 named Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P , Mr. R. Warner, Mr. J. C. 

 Bowring, Mr. J. C. Cookson, Mr. W. Swan, M. Alfred Bleu, and 

 Mr. Cross. 



The following list conta'ns all the hybrids concerning which any 

 information could be obtained up to the present time, the seed-bearing 

 parent is named first, and the pollen parent second, in all Mr. Seden's 

 hybrids, and in other cases also where it could be ascertained. 



