96 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



handsome Cypripediums : C. X Merlin magnificum, for which a 

 Silver Medal was awarded; C.insigne; Sanderianum X Leeanum; 

 and C. insigne nigrum, for which a First Class Certificate was 

 awarded. 



January 14, William Whitman (Martin Sullivan, gardener) 

 made a handsome display of Chinese Primulas. 



January 21, Walter Hunnewell showed a new seedling Laelio- 

 ( lattleya — L.-C. Clancyana — (Laelia elegans X CaMleya Minucia), 

 sepals and petals pale lilac, throat nearly white, lip pale lilac with 

 deeper markings of lilac purple, practically self colored. 



It may not be out of place here to comment on the increasing 

 difficulties in orchid nomenclature and other matters relating 

 thereto. It is argued by orchid growers and raisers that because 

 a certain cross has been made between two orchids, say two Cattleyas 

 or a Laelia and a Cattleya, and progeny raised and named, that 

 any others of that cross are from that fact the same thing and 

 should have the same name. 



This argument would not hold in the hybridization of othei 

 plants, and naturally it should not, and does not among orchids. 

 In the cross made which resulted in L.-C. Clancyana we have had 

 two other seedlings bloom and they bloomed when L.-C. Clancyana 

 was in flower for the second time, enabling us to make very inter- 

 esting comparisons. All three are very distinct, though showing 

 coloring and form peculiar to both parents and their antecedents, 

 for both parents were hybrids. Each was as much worth a dis- 

 tinctive name as the other, and the question one naturally asks 

 is what limit can there be to the naming of every hybrid raised, and 

 how can we here tell whether what we make awards to are really 

 distinct, or have not been already recognized elsewhere. 



We take this opportunity to suggest that the Society appoint 

 an Orchid Committee, for we feel that the Plant and Flower Com- 

 mittee, as now made up, cannot do the judging of orchids, espe- 

 cially new or rare ones, in an efficient manner. 



February 4, Mr. Dane showed Cypripedium Olivia (C. tonsum X 

 nirrum). The whole flower is pale pink with deeper lines and the 

 pouch reminds one very much of that of C. spcctabilc. He also 

 exhibited C. Minos Youngii (C. Arthurianum pulchellum X C. 

 Spiccrianum), a large flower, upper petal striped and tinted as in 

 C. Spicerianum, bronzy lower petals and pouch. 



