KAISING ORCHIDS FROM SEEDS. 41 



be placed in small pots quite close to the inside edge, and when the 

 plants get strong enough, they may be potted singly in the material 

 already recommended, or be placed on blocks. In potting and taking 

 them up, great care must be used not to injure the roots. We also 

 think it is quite a wrong practice to lift and to pot these seedling plants 

 separately, when they are too small, for they cannot use the soil, and 

 before they have gained sufficient size to do so, it becomes sour and 

 soddened, thus necessitating another change, which is injurious to the 

 plants. 



Onij of the surest rOads to success in hybridising is to select the finer 

 species or varieties only for experiment, though it is possible that there 

 may exist in a flower of inferior merit some quality which would induce 

 the operator to undertake its improvement, or endeavour to transfer the 

 desired feature to some more favoured kind. It is highly desirable that 

 many more gro^^■ers should turn their attention to the raising of hybrids, 

 not only with the view of obtaining finer flowers than we already possess — 

 though that would be a real advantage ; but for the additional purpose 

 of raising sorts that might succeed in cooler houses. Odontoglossum 

 grande and many others, for instance, do better in a cool-house than in a 

 warm one ; how desirable it would be to communicate this quality to 

 others. Gypriioedium insigne will thrive well in a greenhouse, and if we 

 could cross this with some of the other kinds, such as C. superbiens, 

 C. hirsutissimum, C. Lowii, or C. barbatum superbum, something good 

 might be the result. There are also several hardy Cypripediums , such as 

 C. macmnthum, G. pubescens, and C. spedabile, which might be induced 

 to play an important part in the operation. At least, the several hybrid 

 Cypripediwns which have flowered in the establishment of Messrs. Veitch 

 fully bear out our argument. Phajus grandifolius and P. Wallicliii are 

 likewise two noble plants for winter decoration, which do well in a warm 

 greenhouse, and may probably be the means of producing some very 

 ornamental plants, if crossed with various Galanthes. 



Since the publication of the sixth edition of this Manual, numerous 

 Orchid growers have been turning their attention to the raising of 

 seedlings, and quite a host of beautiful new kinds have been added to 

 the long list of garden favourites. 



