Xiv. HISTORY OF ORCHID HYBRIDISATION 
double interest, being the first successful experiment undertaken to prove 
the origin of a wild plant. When in 1853, Phalenopsis intermedia first 
appeared, as a single plant in an importation of Phalaenopsis Aphrodite 
(then called P. amabilis) received from the Philippines, Dr. Lindley 
suggested that it might be a natural hybrid between that species and 
P. rosea. With a view to prove this hypothesis, Mr. Seden crossed P. 
rosea with the pollen of P. Aphrodite, and when the resulting progeny 
flowered for the first time, in 1886, it proved absolutely identical with the 
wild P. X intermedia. 
In 1886, the work of two other hybridists appeared. Cypripedium x 
Io was raised in the collection of Norman C. Cookson, Esq., Oakwood, 
Wylam-on-Tyne, from C. Argus and C. Lawrenceanum, and C. X apiculatum 
in that of D. O. Drewett, Esq., of Riding Mill-on-Tyne, from C. 
barbatum and C. Boxallii. 
The work was now being rapidly extended over a wider field, for in 1887 
hybrids raised by at least seven new operators flowered for the first time, 
and Reichenbach remarked ‘‘All Orchidic England is engaged in the 
procreation of mules.’ We may briefly mention them, but the great 
extension of the work will prevent us from giving more than a selection in 
future. Dr. Harris, of Lamberhurst, Kent (a namesake of the gentleman 
who gave Dominy the idea of hybridising Orchids), flowered Cattleya x 
Harrisii, raised from C. Leopoldi and C. Mendelu, C. xX Miss Harris, from 
C. Mossiz and C. Schilleriana, and Lelia X Novelty, from L. pumila and 
Leliocattleya x elegans. W. Vanner, Esq., Camden Wood, Chislehurst, 
flowered Dendrobium X Vannerianum, raised from D. moniliforme (japoni- 
cum) and D. Falconeri. Captain Hincks, of Breckenbrough, Thirsk, 
Yorks, raised Masdevallia x Hincksiana, from M. tovarensis and M. ignea. 
Mr. F. Horn, gardener to Baron N. Rothschild, of Vienna, flowered 
Cypripedium x Hornianum from C. superbiens and C. Spicerianum. 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, flowered Masdevallia x Geleniana, 
raised from M. caudata and M. xanthina, Reichenbach remarking “ This 
is the debut of Mr. F. Sander in Orchid hybridising, and very many more 
are forthcoming.” Lastly, we find two Cypripediums, x Charles Canham 
and x Mrs. Canham, said to have been raised by an amateur, whose 
name was not divulged, but has since been recorded as Mr. James Douglas. 
They were obtained from C. superbiens and C. villosum, and the reverse 
cross, and were sent out by Messrs. Veitch. 
Among the numerous hybrids of 1887 the most interesting was Zygoco- 
lax X Veitchu, raised by Mr. Seden from Zygopetalum crinitum fertilised 
with the pollen of Colax jugosus, which flowered when a little over five 
years old. It marks the commencement of a new era in the nomenclature 
of generic Orchid hybrids. Hitherto such plants had been referred to one 
