lo ORCHIDS FOR EVERYONE 



& Co. have Introduced many wonderful hybrids of great value for 

 winter flowering, and Ljelio-cattleya Charlesworthii may be 

 cited as an example. This firm, and that of Messrs Sander & Sons, 

 are at present very much to the front as hybridists, while in private 

 establishments Lt.-Col. Sir G. L. Holford, K.C.V.O., CLE., etc., 

 Westonbirt, Tetbury, and Mr Alexander, his able Orchid grower, 

 have come prominently before the public with Cypripediums of high 

 merit and a grand set of Laelio-cattleyas, many of which are bright 

 yellow, and flower in the dull months of the year, L.-c. Golden 

 Beauty and L.-c. Golden Oriole being a fine pair from this 

 source. Mr Thwaites, of Streatham, has given considerable atten- 

 tion to Dendrobiums, and Sir Jeremiah Colman, Bart., Gatton 

 Park, Reigate, with his gardeners, Mr Bound and Mr Collier, 

 have also been successful in the same direction. Mr G. F. Moore, 

 Chardwar, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., 

 Burford Lodge, Dorking, with his Orchid grower, Mr W. H. 

 White, have all added several hybrids, while many others who 

 have entered the ranks as raisers will probably be more prominently 

 before the public in the years to come. 



Turning from these interesting historical references to the 

 practical side of the question, it will be worth while to first 

 consider the structure of an Orchid flower. The diff^erences between 

 Orchids and other flowers lie chiefly in the structure of the sexual 

 organs. The outer ring of segments in an Orchid flower is com- 

 posed of three sepals, then come three petals, but one of these is 

 generally more developed than the rest, being larger, brighter, and 

 somewhat diff'erent in shape from the other two, and this is the 

 labellum or lip. Right in the centre of the flower is a stout fleshy 

 process, the column, bearing at its apex the little pollen masses, 

 carefully covered by a protecting cap which, when the pollen is 

 ripe, is easily removed by an intruding insect. The pollen masses 



