138 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [ May, 1914. 
between all the three segments of the inner whorl, for the column and 
anther are normal. It is curious that this condition should operate only on 
one side of the bulb. It will be interesting to watch the behaviour of the 
plant next year, for D. n. Cooksonianum is constant. 
Mr. Moore concludes: ‘‘I am looking forward next season to the 
flowering of some seedlings I have raised between D. nobile giganteum and 
another variety of D. nobile, with the purple colour disposed in blotches 
entirely on the backs of the sepals and petals, and the lip normal. It will 
be interesting to see if these features are preserved or revert.” 
UCH interest has always been taken by the Orchid Review in the 
raising of Odontoglossums from seed. Having recently been very 
successful in this branch of Orchidology, the following brief note may be 
helpful to those who still find it a matter of some difficulty. 
The preparation of a suitable seed bed is first and foremost a necessity. 
My plan is to pot a plant which will not need disturbance for some time, 
surface with a good layer of.the best obtainable sphagnum moss, and after 
the plant is quite re-established—a matter of a few weeks—the seed should 
be scattered evenly and sparsely on the surface. Henceforth it is merely 4 
matter of keeping the compost moist, the temperature as near 50° Fahr. as 
possible, and shading from strong light. Moisture is afforded by spraying 
with a Muratori’s Hand Sprayer, but where the grower does not possess 
_this handy machine, a good plan is to dip the plant in a pail of tepid rain 
water just to below the rim, holding it there for several minutes. 
When the seedlings are large enough to handle, they then should be 
pricked out into pans containing a mixture of finely-chopped polypodium 
fibre and best sphagnum, removing them from the seed bed by means of a 
pointed stick, the end of which should be moistened with the tongue, when 
the tiny seedlings will adhere more easily. The after culture will consist 
merely in treating the seedlings as is usual for Odontoglossums, plus a little 
additional care. 
It should be remarked that the plant selected for the seed bed should be 
an Odontoglossum, and should be in a good state ofhealth. Thismethod of 
seed-raising applies also to Odontonias, Odontocidiums, and Miltonia hybrids- 
In conclusion, I may perhaps suggest that failure is often caused by the 
seed being improperly ripened or not good, for I have known many cases 
where healthy pods have formed, but on examining seed under a microscope 
it has been found worthless. This is especially the case where crosses of 
wide structural differences are intercrossed, particularly with Odontonias 
and Oncidium crosses. C. ALWyNn HARRISON: 
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a oo 
Sacer 
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