xxxiv. HYBRIDISING AND RAISING ORCHID SEEDLINGS. 
situated in a shallow cavity in front of the column, just below the anther, but 
in Cochlioda there are two stigmas, which thus become partially lateral, 
while in the Cypripedium group the stigma is the shield-shaped body 
situated on the underside of the column inside the lip, on the opposite side 
to the staminode. The stigma may generally be recognised by its shiny 
viscous surface, but in the Cypripedium group it is dry, the pollen here 
being viscous. Having identified the parts we may proceed to describe the 
details. 
POLLINATION OF THE FLOWER.—Having selected the flower that is 
intended to be fertilised, the first thing to be done is to remove its own 
pollen—generally a very simple task, but in those genera which have powdery 
pollen care should be taken that no grains are left behind, or the flower 
might be self-fertilised. Next take the pollen that is intended to be used 
and apply it to the stigma, to which it will adhere, and the process of 
pollination is complete. The reverse cross may be effected at the same 
time, if the pollen from the first flower is then applied to the stigma of the 
second. In fertilising small flowers with pollen from larger ones it 1s some- 
times found that the pollen masses are too large to enter the stigma entire, 
and then it is necessary to cut them, and use only a portion, and conversely 
in reversing the operation the pollen of more than one flower is sometimes 
used. Crosses between Cochlioda and Odontoglossum and_ between 
Sophronitis and similar large flowers are examples. 
RECORDING THE Cross.—The details of the cross should now be 
entered in a note-book, with a number, which latter should be written on a 
small tag, and tied loosely on to the pedicel of the flower. Crosses should 
be numbered consecutively, and carefully entered, space being left under 
each for future use, as success or failure, the sowing of the seed, &c. All 
records should be carefully kept, as the correct parentage is of great 
importance when the seedlings flower. One should not trust to memory for 
these details. 
EFFECT OF POLLINATION.—The effect of pollination—if the cross has 
taken—will soon be apparent, in the floral segments fading prematurely and 
the column and ovary beginning to swell, and the chief thing to be done is 
to keep the plant healthy, and avoid checks and over-stimulation, so that 
the capsule may develop properly. A matter which sometimes perplexes 
beginners at this stage is that capsules will swell to a considerable size and 
then go off prematurely, or when they open they may be empty or contain 
only a mass of chaff without good seeds. The reason is frequently that 
fertilisation proper has not taken place, and an explanation of the process 
will make this point clear. 
FERTILISATION proper does not take place immediately. When an 
Orchid flower opens the ovules are undeveloped, and, in this state, are 
