February, 1914:] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 35 
and if the grill and the attendant prove inadequate there will be nothing 
else for it but a tight-fitting glass case for the certificated plants. 
To return to the R.H.S. meetings. The year opened auspiciously 
with seven medal groups—only one fewer than that which moved the 
representative of the daily press to such enthusiasm—besides several 
Certificated Orchids behind the grill. (By the way, at the next meeting 
some of them had escaped into the open Hall, pollen thieves or no), The 
Registration Form of the Hybrid Orchid Register was also available, and 
was requisitioned for several novelties, so that the new scheme promises to 
be soon in working order. 
One of the difficulties that lies ahead is the increasing number of hybrids 
of unrecorded parentage, unless, as seems probable, the majority can be 
fitted into their places as forms of existing hybrids. Already they are being 
used as parents, and the offspring of one such plant received a certificate 
at the last R.H.S. meeting, so that in addition to the difficulty of identifying 
hybrids of unknown parentage, there will also be that of identifying their 
parents, a task not always within the powers of the most astute observer. 
But these supposed difficulties may prove to be largely imaginery, and 
may vanish as we approach them. In any case they will not arrest the 
march of improvement, and the attempt to keep a record of the steps by 
which such progress is made will be invaluable in the future. The attempt 
to secure such a record should secure the loyal co-operation of all hybridists. 
ARACHNANTHE Lowil.—There has been much speculation as to the 
significance of the orange-coloured flowers at the base of the spike of this 
remarkable Orchid, but the matter has never, so far as we know, been 
cleared up, so that it may be interesting to mention a record by the late 
Mr. J. C. Spyers. Speaking of a plant then in flower at Burford, he 
observed (Gard. Chron., 1880, ii. p. 406): ‘A remarkable fact about this 
splendid Vanda is that the one or more yellow flowers at the base of the 
many-flowered spike emit a very powerful odour, while none of the chocolate 
and white are anything but slightly scented. The scent is peculiar but not 
disagreeable.”” The plant at this period was known under the name of 
Vanda Lowii, and under this name Wallace’s account of it will be found at 
page 6. Mr. John Day figured it in August, 1864 (Orch. Draw., viii. t. 25), 
from flowers brought to him by Mr. S. Rucker, of Wand th, and again 
in August, 1879 (xxv. t. 35), when he had two plants in bloom in his own 
collection. On this occasion he remarked: “‘ The scape has no stiffness 
whatever, and is perfectly pendulous, like a wet string.” 
