18 ORCHID HYBRIDS. 



one point or other, so glaring as to deserve attention: 

 then admit it, christen it, and watch for every plant 

 which may be recorded later on displaying a character 

 similar to the one given thus recognition. In such case, 

 do not grant the newcomer specific rank, but subdue its 

 claim for originality under the title of the one given a 

 previous certificate, the clamor of the originator of the 

 bastard notwithstanding. 



If a cross has been given the name formed by com- 

 bining the terms of his parents no matter whether it 

 has been done rightly or wrongly according to botanic 

 usage uphold the name. If Cpd. Javanico-Spiceriaiium 

 is established, do not try and rechristen it lutescens 

 (what for all I know may have been done unconsciously). 

 Remember that it is the rule of botanists when joining 

 such names, to place the pollen parent first. But though 

 it is more than desirable to adhere to such usage, it is 

 not of such piercing effect as to warrant a rechristening 

 of the material already known as interfering with such 

 rule. Sometimes the reverse is perfectly identical. It 

 can be suggested that we deal with natural hybrids also 

 and unless proven by repetition in actual experiment 

 their parentage, though admittedly the one given in 

 joined name, leaves still room for speculation as to 

 which was the seed-bearing parent. 



Bigeneric hybrids claim a place of their own. If we 

 recognize Laelia and Cattleya, and join either with any 

 orchid, we must uphold the difference of their progeny 

 and create a new class for each group. Do not admit 

 distinctness in generic rank to the reverse cross, but 

 make his seedlings subservient to the class already estab- 

 lished. This rule should stand even if such characters 

 as the difference in the pollen-masses of Laelia and 

 Cattleya should be entirely obliterated; it should be up- 



