"g 
‘. ~ The Orebid Review & 
Cee VoL. XXVIII. MAy-JUNE, 1920. No. 329-330. a 
Bes OUR NOTE BOOK. | SS | 
HE remarkable Odontonia Pittiz, figured at p. 41, affords a good 
illustration of the progress that is being made in hybridisation. The 
object behind the cross was to produce a hybrid better adapted to a warmer 
climate than are the cool Odontoglossums, which do not succeed well in 
many localities in the United States. Miltonias are Intermediate house 
Orchids, in fact M. Roezlii, one of the parents of M. Bleuana, succeeds best 
in a Warm house, which is probably one reason why it is so much less 
grown than M. vexillaria, and is seldom seen in first-rate condition. Of 
course, there are several other combinations with Miltonia which will be 
available in carrying the experiment further, and among them the brilliantly- 
coloured Miltonioda Harwoodii, but time alone will tell whether it is 
possible to retain both the Miltonia constitution and the beautiful Odonto- 
glossum blotching. Odontonia Pittia came rather as a surprise, and it is 
doubtful if its parentage would have been guessed without the record, for in 
shape and markings, especially of the lip, it rather recalls some big violet- 
blue Warscewiczella. The shape evidently came largely from the Miltonia 
parent, as may be seen on comparison with a figure of that given at p. 81, 
but the colour and markings came from Odontoglossum Harryanum, which 
has yielded some remarkable developments at the hands of the hybridist. 
It will be interesting to see what the plant develops into when it becomes 
Stronger. 
Hybridisation among Orchids is making enormous strides, and in several 
groups is progressive in the best sense of the word. One contributory cause 
of this is that the hybrids themselves are fertile, with comparatively few 
exceptions, and no sooner is some good hybrid raised than it is again 
pressed into the service, and becomes the progenitor of further improve- 
ments. Ot late years this has been especially the case with Odontoglossum 
and Odontioda, which are witnessing some remarkable developments, in 
spite of the difficulty still found in germinating the seed. The Cattleya 
group is also being improved in a remarkable way. Albino Cattleyas, 
85 
