240 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
SEEDLING ODONTOGLOSSUMS., 
IN an account of the interesting little collection of F. H. Moore, Esq., of 
Liverpool, given at page 277 of our last volume, it was remarked :—‘‘ With 
the hope of obtaining seedlings of Odontoglossum xX Humeanum we then 
and there crossed and re-crossed O. Rossii and maculatum.” In March 
last Mr. Moore wrote that the capsule of O. maculatum x Rossii had 
ripened, but that the strain had killed the plant. The seed had been sown 
on three pots of O. maculatum. He now writes “I am much delighted and 
somewhat astonished to find a nice batch of seedlings. Some of them are 
an eighth of an inch across, and resemble small Spanish onions.” We hope 
in due time to hear of their further progress. 
CATTLEYA DISEASE. 
SOME time ago an esteemed correspondent wrote :—‘‘I have an extremely 
fine Cattleya X Mantinii nobilior (C. Bowringiana X C. Dowiana aurea), 
and both last year and this the year-old bulb (not the new flowering one) 
has decayed in a most unaccountable manner. Both this year and last it 
commenced just after the flowers on the new bulb were over. I enclose 
one half of the bulb, and should be extremely glad of your valuable opinion 
as to the possible cause. We are completely puzzled. The plant is in an 
intermediate-Cattleya house, where it has always been, and in the same 
house are both parents in a very healthy condition. It has had no drip 
from the roof, as might, perhaps, be supposed, nor has it been in any way 
~ over-watered, but kept, if anything, on the dry side. The decay commences 
at the top of the bulb, which has had xo moisture near to it, and proceeds, 
in the course of a few days, quickly downwards. As the plant is a valuable 
one, we are much distressed. We shall be very glad if you can help us 
with any suggestion as to the cause or prevention, or if it is an inherited 
weakness, and if you have ever heard of it before. I have heard of aurea 
disease, but have never seen it. Can it be possible that the special aurea 
parent in this case has had the disease, and that it is inherited by this 
plant? The plant is otherwise vigorous, and the variety the finest that I 
have ever seen.” 
On examining the bulb, we fail to find any fungus mycelium present, and 
under the circumstances mentioned, we are at a loss to suggest the cause 
of the disease. As the season of flowering of this hybrid is again. approach- 
ing, we should be glad to know if other readers have had a similar 
experience, and can suggest the cause, or any effective remedy. 
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