May-JUNE, 1920.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 93. 
A Silver Medal -was awarded to Messrs. Cypher & Sons, Cheltenham, 
for a good group. 
Interesting exhibits were staged by Mrs. Gratrix, Whalley Range; P. 
Smith, Esq., Ashton-on-Mersey (gr. Mr. E. W. Thompson); Capt. W. 
Horridge, Bury (gr. Mr. A. Coningsby) ; the Rev. J. Crombleholme, 
Clayton-le-Moors (gr. Mr. E.. Marshall); F. Houghton, Esq., Appleton,. 
Warrington (gr. Mr. W. Maddock); many of which figure in the above 
List of Awards. 
ORCHID HYBRIDISING | 
ro (Continued from page 38.) 
HE critical period we have seen to be in getting the germinating 
seedlings over the stage of its own independent existence, and in this. 
connection we may mention some experiments which have been made with 
Cattleyas at Cornell University, U.S.A., and are given in a paper by Mr. 
D. Lumsden (Journ. Inte Gard. Club, ii. pp. 203-212, with 4 figs.). Seeds 
“were sown under aseptic conditions upon various nutrient media, and also 
on wood of various kinds kept under normal and abnormal moisture 
conditions; always without results. But when seeds were sown on a 
mixture of equal parts of peat and sphagnum moss, covered with canvas. 
and sterilised by steam before sowing, good results were obtained. But 
there was one condition that is not followed in ordinary practice. It is this. 
After sterilising, the canvas is raised and small sections of Orchid roots 
taken from’ an allied’ plant are placed on the compost, and the canvas. 
replaced. The pots are then placed in the propagating frame, and after-a 
lapse of one or two days the seeds are sown, and spony. and encourag- 
results have been obtained. 
It is remarked: ‘‘ In no case have the results been encouraging where 
the fungus [from the root sections) has not been introduced directly to the 
pots or media,” though “it is true that scattering seedlings appear on check 
pots that have not been sterilised ’—which it is suggested may be due to 
contamination, as the check pots were placed side by side with those 
containing the fungus—+.c., root sections—in the germinating case. 
In order to dispel any theory of the possibility of the fungus having its 
genesis in the seed, a capsule of a true C. Mossie-* C. intermedia was 
taken from the plant previously to its dehiscing ; the seeds were extracted 
and a number of sowings made under purely aseptic conditions, but in not 
a single instance was any contamination noticeable. 
It follows that the essential is to obtain pure cultures of the symbiotic 
fungi in Orchid want and this must be held over. 
: (To be continued:) 
