XXVi. HISTORY OF ORCHID HYBRIDISATION. 
with the upper half of the latter white, the only other colour being a few 
minute brown lines at the base of the petals and a few brown dots inside 
the lip. In var. virginale (t. 24.) there is a slight suffusion of brown in the 
flower, and some purple veining on the petals and base of the dorsal sepal. 
In var. Marie Closon (t. 24e) the purple on the dorsal sepal takes the form 
of a band, which extends to beyond the middle of the dorsal sepal. In var. 
Cyrus (t. 24d) the bandon the dorsal sepal is broader and extends right to 
the apex, while traces of lateral bands occur, with many brown dots on the 
base of the dorsal sepal and petals. In var. Gidippe (t. 24c) the greater 
part of the dorsal sepal is suffused and veined with purple, and the whole 
flower is darker in colour. Lastly, in var. Hebe (t. 24b) both the petals and 
dorsal sepal are closely spotted with dark brown all over, the spots on the 
latter being purple where they extend into the white area. These remark- 
ably diverse forms came out of the same capsule. 
The case of Dendrobium x Blackianum (Orch. Rev. 1904, p. 104) is 
equally remarkable. It was obtained from D. Findlayanum crossed with 
the pollen of D. X Wiganiz, and exhibits a remarkable range of variation. 
There are buff yellow forms, with the disc of the lip reddish maroon, and 
varying considerably in size, others in which the coloured disc is greatly 
reduced in size or almost absent, some with white ground colour and purple 
tips to the sepals and petals, and a purple disc to the lip; in short there are 
forms approaching each parent in general character. 
Among Dendrobiums, Cattleyas, Odontoglossums and others cases could 
be mentioned where a wide range of variation has been observed between 
the offspring from the same capsule, and the more distinct the original species 
the greater the possibilities of variation. This variation affords materials for 
selection, and for great improvements in the future. 
ARR SS 
