xl. HYBRIDISING AND RAISING ORCHID SEEDLINGS. 
so many crosses is known. And it is here that the following pages should 
be specially useful. The hybridist having certain species in flower, and 
wishing to know whether they have already been crossed, has only to turn to 
Part I. of the work, where the crosses which have flowered are recorded, with 
the name of the resulting hybrid, and if it is there, on referring to Part II. he 
will find the clue to its history. Of course, crosses not recorded may have 
been made, but not yet reached the flowering stage. It should be useful in 
another way, for certain crosses are worth repeating, especially if the best 
varieties of the parents can be used, and this is particularly the case with 
rare hybrids, or those that can only be propagated very slowly. A batch 
of any good hybrid raised from the best varieties of the parents attainable 
is sure to yield a few good forms, the best of which can be selected and 
grown on. 
Hyprips as ParENTS.—In one respect hybridisation is always likely to 
remain progressive, for the best of the hybrids can be crossed together, or 
re-crossed with the original parents, with the object of emphasising desirable 
qualities or of developing new breaks of colour, and if such further crossing 
is done with definite objects in view, and the worst forms constantly weeded 
out, progress is sure to result. One cannot expect more than a certain 
percentage of superior forms, and the worst should be discarded after being 
proved. In this work the great variability of secondary hybrids will usually 
afford plenty of scope for selection. Much has been accomplished already, 
and the rate of progress is likely to be accelerated in the future. 
It nowremains to say something about the individual genera and their 
peculiarities. 
THE CyYPRIPEDIUM GROUP first claims our attention, for its hybrids far 
outnumber any other, and this is largely due to the ease and certainty with 
which the seedlings can be raised. Though generally known as Cypri- 
pedium in gardens, they really belong to Paphiopedilum, for Cypripedium 
proper comprises the hardy deciduous species, of which no hybrids have 
been raised artificially, though wild ones are known. The plants known as 
Selenipedium in gardens also belong to another genus, Phragmopedilum, 
for Selenipedium proper comprises three tall reed-like plants which are not 
cultivation. 
PAPHIOPEDILUM seedlings are very easily raised. Having obtained 
capsule of seed, one has only to scatter it over the compost of some plant 
that will not require potting for some considerable time, keep the compost 
moist, and await the appearance of the seedlings, which, if the seeds are 
good and the treatment right, is generally only a matter of time. In the 
latter respect they are rather erratic, sometimes appearing very quickly, and 
at others not until the lapse of several months, or even more. The late Mr. 
Reginald Young has recorded the appearance of seedlings as long as two 
