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(Continued from p. 14) 
family, so numerous and so diverse, not only is the field for exploration much more vast, 
but the bi-generic combinations not realisable in other natural orders with well marked 
genera, would appear to enter into the range of actual possibility. 
What a new field opens up to hybridisation! It will certainly be unnecessary to 
delude one’s self to the extent of crossing an Odontoglossum with a Cattleya, ora Vanda 
with a Dendrobium. But what surprises may not be produced by skilful raisers from 
crossing such allied genera as has already been realised from Cattleya and Laelia, 
Cattleya and Sophronitis, Cattleya and Epidendrum, Epidendrum and Sophronitis, etc. 
All the Epidendrum tribe, indeed, appear to lend themselves with the best possible grace 
to these bold combinations. 
Whilst in the animal kingdom the mule seems to be stricken with an irremediable 
sterility and cannot transmit its acquired characters to posterity, with Orchids, on the 
contrary, the mules or hybrids, even bi-generic ones, produce not only fertile seeds which 
may not only perpetuate the race, but even lend themselves again to fresh crosses, either 
among themselves or with the type species, to produce mules or hybrids of second or 
third degree. Who can foresee the end of these successive crossings and fix the limit of 
variations which may result from them? 
There is also the well known fact that hybrids thus created are generally more 
vigorous than the parents from which they emanate, and possess a greater resisting force 
to atmospheric influences and insect attacks. Their flowers are likewise larger and last 
longer than those of the natural species. 
Is not the effect of acclimatisation seen here, that is to say, the accomodation to the 
surroundings in which these plants are bred and born? And in this respect cannot one 
perceive the hope of creating a new race of open air orchids which from generation to 
generation would gradually adapt themselves to the new climate which gave them birth? 
Among vegetables how many are to-day ordinarily used for the ornamentation of gardens 
during the summer season, how many species of tropical origin do we not see which when 
introduced were considered to belong exclusively to the greenhouse? 
I do not wish to press the paradox so far as to suppose that baskets embellished 
with Cattleyas or Odontoglossums may soon be seen out of doors, but it seems to be not 
at all improbable that we have begun to create by hybridising and repeated seeding 
races of Cattleyas and Odontoglossums of which the vegetative conditions will become 
adapted to the climate under which they have been produced, and of which the culture 
will consequently be more easy and certain than that of plants imported direct from 
their native country. 
It seems to me then that the hybridisation and seeding of Orchids should play an 
important part in the future, not only from the aesthetic floral point of view but also 
from the standpoint of horticultural progress. 
As to amateurs who think more of the nominal value of their plants, or as rarities, 
than of their natural beauty; who grow them chiefly for ostentation, like others make a 
collection of pictures or maintain a stud of coursers, — for these the standpoint certainly 
varies and they may look upon hybridisation as an abominable evil. The indefinite 
propagation of these aristocratic flowers will at no very distant date be the means of 
opening up an era for popular orchids — “ Orchids for the million. , 
It is evident that when the cotter’s wife replaces in spring the traditional pot of 
(Continued on p. 18) 
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