ON ORCHIDS. 



619 



is one of the finest of these bigeneric hybrids. It is derived 

 from the intercrossing of Lcelia purpurata and Cattleya Dowiana. 



It was my privilege a short time since to inspect the private 

 hybridising department of Messrs. Veitch's nursery, now situated 

 at Langley, Slough, and I was astonished to see the countless 

 number of hybrids in all stages of growth, from the tiny 

 germinations in the seed-pans to those bursting into flower. As 

 pioneers of hybridisation, Messrs. Veitch have naturally had 

 considerable advantages by being able to bring into use the 

 hybrids that have been continually flowering with them. These 

 give " new blood," which it is impossible to obtain under less 

 favourable circumstances. 



The fascination of Orchid hybridisation has so extended of 

 late years that there is now scarcely any Orchid collection 

 where seedlings of some of the different kinds are not raised 

 on the premises. Considerable variation occurs as to the period 

 that elapses from fertilisation to the time of ripening of the seed- 

 pods in the different kinds. The greater part of them take 

 from nine to twelve months. There are also different methods 

 of sowing the seed, each advocate claiming the greater advantages. 



FlG. 4OO. — SOPHRONITIS GRANDIFLORA. 



My own experience is that this is only a secondary consideration, 

 providing the seed is good, properly ripened, and carefully 

 attended to afterwards. There is little mere difficulty in the 

 raising of Orchids than is experienced with any other class of plant 



