NovEMBER, 1923.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 345 
EXHIBITS OF SPECIAL ORCHIDS. 
AC the meeting of the Orchid Committee, on September 18th, the 
chairman, Sir Jeremiah Colman, Bart., read a communication from 
the Hon. Henry D. McLaren, suggesting that the Committee should ask 
the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society to reserve dates during the 
year 1924, on which one or more genera of Orchids should form the special 
feature. At the meeting held October 2nd, Sir Jeremiah Colman stated 
that the Council had agreed to the suggestions made, and that certain dates 
were being arranged for the showing of Cypripediums, Cymbidiums, 
Odontoglossums and Cattleyas. 
A similar scheme, although on a far more extensive scale, was arranged 
for the year 1906. On every R.H.S. meeting held in that year First and 
Second Diplomas were offered to plants of exceptional merit shown in one 
combined group. By this means groups representing the varieties of the 
particular species decided upon for exhibition, together with hybrids of the 
same, were of more than ordinary interest. At the same time, the Society’s 
paintings of the species and hybrids in the particular section were exhibited. 
Since the vear 1906, vast strides have been made in the production of 
hybrids, and much greater opportunities now exist for presenting suitable 
plants on the respective dates, but, on the other hand, some of the 
species, well-known in former days, have almost dropped out of 
cultivation. For the competitions in 1906, January 23rd, was reserved for 
Oncidiums; February 13th, for Cypripedium villosum ; May 15th, for Lelia 
purpurata and its hybrids, as well as Lc. Schilleriana and Lc. elegans; July 
17th, for Lelia tenebrosa and its hybrids ; September 25th, for Cypripedium 
Rothschildianum and its hybrids; and October 23rd, for Lelia Dayana, L. 
pumila and hybrids. 
On other dates in 1906, April 3rd, was for Cymbidiums, the First 
Diploma being awarded to C. Lowianum, Fir Grange var., and the second 
to C. grandiflorum punctatissimum. For Cymbidium hybrids the First 
Diploma went to C. I’Ansonii, and the second to C. eburneo-Lowianum. 
No doubt the greatest advance made in any of the sections will be that seen 
in Cymbidiums, for ever since the first hybrid of C. insigne appeared in 
January, 1911, a continual stream of novelties has been presented at the 
R.H.S. meetings. 
April 17th and May rst, 1906, were reserved for Odontoglossum species 
and hybrids, the former being limited to crispum, Pescatorei and triumphans ; 
for hybrids, the First Diploma went to O. Adriane aureum. It is expected 
that the date fixed in 1924 for the exhibition of Cattleya species and 
hybrids will be the same as that arranged for the R.H.S. Autumn Show of 
Orchids. Autumn flowering hybrids in the Cattleya section have now 
