22 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [JaN.-FEB., 1919. ° 
highly blotched forms known in gardens. Has anyone ever crossed the 
normal forms of the two species together? The result should be a white of 
intermediate shape, recalling M. Vuylsteke’s white reversions, which we 
afterwards saw.—O.R., xi. p. 188. RAR, 
ee ORCHIDS IN BELGIUM. ‘ ae | 
Bewbed ENS. 
OR oVer four years we have been cut off from all knowledge of what has 
7 been happening to Orchids in Belgium, but at p. 228 of our last issue 
we were able to give a few particulars, and now further details are available. 
M. Charles Sladden, Bois de Breux, near Liégé, writes: ‘‘ Since the 
outbreak of War I have been deprived of the Orchid Review, but now that 
communications are again open I beg you to send me as early as possible all 
the missing numbers, so that my set shall not be broken. IfI were to tell 
you all the iniquities, vexations, and cruelties we had to bear in silence, a 
whole book would not be sufficient. Revelling in this devilish enioyment, 
the Germans burnt many houses in my own village, and shot some of the 
inhabitants. Still, I had the marvellous luck to remain unhurt. My. 
establishment escaped destruction and I death; two things very likely to 
happen, as being near. the forts. of Liége our risks were great in the early 
days of the War. But I had the good fortune to keep my plants ina healthy 
and thriving condition, though at great sacrifices, for the cost of coal and all 
raw materials was enormous. Peace has now relieved us of that awful 
nightmare, and I hope to be able to again read in the Orchid Review all 
about my beloved Orchids, and the Progress made in their culture during 
the 44 years that we were excluded from the world. 
M. Ch. Vuylsteke, Loochristy, writes, thanking us for still takinga kindly 
interest in his Orchids. He remarks : “Naturally, during this four years 
we have suffered much by the terrible and barbarous War, and we have 
undergone great losses. We have had very great difficulty and expense in 
keeping the plants alive, and in spite of all our trouble we have lost several 
thousand plants, because we had not fuel enough. Owing to the coal 
shortage we have burnt nearly two hundred large trees, and part of the 
houses have been warmed by electricity. Fortunately, we have been able 
destroyed only a few hours before the signature of the armistice. “ Notwith- 
standing all the difficulties in procuring fuel, compost, and insecticide, the 
plants had been kept in good condition for over four years. There were 
