xliv. HYBRIDISING AND RAISING ORCHID SEEDLINGS. 
of the allied species, and some of these with each other, but there is plenty 
of scope for further experiments, especially in the way of securing greater 
variety among the hybrids. 
OpontocrossuM.—For a long period the genus Odontoglossum 
furnished the apparent paradox that although natural hybrids were common 
all attempts to raise them artificially resulted in failure. Atlength, in 1890, 
one seedling flowered in the collection of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, at 
Armainvilliers, near Paris, and a year later a second with Messrs. Veitch. 
A few other single examples followed, and then M. Ch. Vuylsteke, of 
Loochristi, Ghent, took the genus in hand, and his remarkable success is 
now known to every hybridist. At the present time they are being raised 
in numerous collections, with great success. It is probable that the 
early experiments were conducted on wrong lines, for the seedlings are not 
difficult to raise where Odontoglossums are well grown, only requiring a 
little additional care while very small. A slight increase in the amount of 
heat, shade and moisture seems to be the most important cultural 
modification to aim at. The seeds should be scattered over the surface of 
the compost of an established plant, and kept constantly moist and shaded 
from direct sunlight, when the seeds will soon assume a greenish tinge, and 
pass through the ordinary stages of germination. It is best to sow seeds on 
several plants in different positions, and if seedlings do not result some error 
in treatment may be suspected. When the tiny seedlings are pricked off, 
the protection of a small hand light is useful until they become well 
established. A point to remember is that the minute seedlings are very 
delicate in their earlier stages, and liable to be ruined bya few hours neglect, 
which would have no effect on older plants. On the opposite page is given 
a photographic illustration of a group of 600 seedlings raised in the 
collection of W. Thompson, Esq., Walton Grange, Stone, by Mr. W. 
Stevens. The suspended pots contain the tiny seedlings, potted in thimble 
pots and plunged in moss, while the larger ones stand on the stage beneath, 
one of them (in the back row on the right) being in flower, so that plants 
in every stage are represented. As regards their culture Mr. Stevens 
remarks :— 
‘“‘T find that seeds germinate pretty freely almost anywhere in a cool 
house, on pots with other plants, or on calico or flannel placed in pots 
stuffed tight with moss, but as soon as they have formed a little corm they 
want to be moved on to pots of moss, and hung up near the light. During 
winter they require all the light they can get, but as the sun gets more 
power they require plenty ofcare and watching, so as not to over-water or 
shrivel themup. When large enough I single them out into finger pots, 
and plunge them in larger pots filled with moss, so as to keep them in an 
equable condition as regards moisture, and when they begin to root they may 
