ee ete 
a EOORCTIID: ie yay. 
VoL. XXXI.] DECEMBER, 1923. [No. 366, 
NOTES. 
Mr. Jas. O’BriEN.—Many of our readers will regret to learn that 
owing to advanced years, Mr. James O’Brien, V.M.H., has decided to 
retire from the secretaryship of the R.H.S. Orchid Committee in January 
next. He has filled this post ever since the committee was established in 
March, 1889, having previously been a member of the Floral Committee. 
A testimonial, which will probably take the form of a purse, is being 
considered, and further particulars will be given in our January issue. 
PRINCE SHIMADzU.—In a letter recently written to the Editor, Prince 
Shimadzu says that ‘‘ Probably the news of the awful earthquake gave you 
ashock. Mercifully, I did not suffer. All my plants are safe, except just 
two or three. The Orchid houses are far stronger than an ordinary house. 
But there is one thing I am worried about: almost all the labels have 
jumped out of the pots by the shock and I cannot make out which were 
their original positions. The building of my new Orchid houses has had to 
be postponed, as the materials collected for that purpose have all been 
burnt. However, they will be built rather late in 1924, but not in time for 
the next summer.” 
ORCHIS INCARNATA.—The Journal of Botany for November, 1923, 
contains an exhaustive article on The British Forms of Orchis incarnata, 
by the Rev. T. Stephenson, D.D. and T. A. Stephenson, D.Sc. The 
authors state that ‘‘ amongst the Marsh Orchids, O. incarnata, L. should 
probably be given the premier position, and it is unfortunate that it should 
so long have been regarded as a mere form of O. latifolia”: and 
subsequently, ‘‘ we are inclined to think that O. incarnata is the basal 
species of the whole Marsh Orchis group.” Following a general description 
of ©. incarnata, it is remarked that this species grows in the wettest 
situations, often in bogs and standing water, and that it is also found in 
great numbers in damp, sandy places near the sea. Useful descriptions are 
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