132 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [May, 1922, 
vigorous use of the knife, cutting all the decayed stem away till living green 
tissue is reached. In this way one, two or three of the leading pseudobulbs 
may be saved from a plant which is practically dying. After taking all 
these precautions, I usually lose from five to ten per cent. of the plants 
shipped. If the loss is greater, then in my opinion the sender is at fault. 
I refer to the hardier genera of Orchids, such as Cattleyas, Lalias and their 
hybrids, Dendrobiums, Cymbidiums, and the like. Miltonias I find most 
difficult subjects, a few recently imported all died in transit. I know of no 
more exciting occupation than unpacking a case of newly imported Orchids 
from England. 
——- + 
MASDEVALLIA BELLA.—A curious species allied to, and much resembling, 
M. Chimaera, but easily distinguished from it by its large shell-like 
labellum. It was discovered in Colombia by Gustav Wallis when collecting 
for Messrs. Veitch in 1873-4, but he failed to send home living plants. 
Four years later it was introduced by Messrs. Low & Co. 
ONcipIUM INcURVUM.—This well-known plant was originally introduced 
from Mexico by George Barker, of Birmingham, in whose collection at 
Springfield it flowered for the first time in England in 1840. It was 
collected by Ross in the province of Oaxaca, and subsequently by Galeotti 
at Talea in the same province, at an elevation of 4-5,000 feet. The specific 
name was given by Mr. Barker in reference to the tendency of the petals to 
curve Inwards when the flowers first open, the colour of which is rather 
unusual in the genus. 
REICHENBACH’s PropHEcy.—After describing in detail Cypripedium 
Crossianum, a new hybrid then flowering for the first time, H. G. 
Reichenbach made the following observation in the Gardeners’ Chronicle 
for 1873, “‘ While speaking of hybrid Cypripediums, I would remark that I 
saw ast autumn in the nursery of Messrs. Veitch some varieties of C+ 
Harrisianum, which are. quite wonders of beauty from the great profusion 
of their blackish varnished flowers. What we want in Orchids is great 
variety. . The addition of sucha peculiar form is no doubt very agreeable. 1 
would once more declare that the raising of such hybrids, whose origin is 
candidly and clearly stated, must, by-and-by, assist us vey much in improwe 
ing our views about species. We shall then see clearer. Then will come the 
grand time, when nearly all species will be known, and botanists will be 
able to judge with higher precision about the genera, at least of vascular 
plants. The next generation of botanists will have, indeed, very much to 
look at, but their satisfaction in science will be, no Boake much greater 
than that we enjoy. 
