190 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [AuGUST, 1917. 
article on the subject, accompanied by a photograph, which was published 
under the heading Fungus Co-operation in Orchid Roots (O.R., xiv. pp. 
201-203, with fig.). The subjects were Odontoglossum and Phalzenopsis, 
but the same principles apply to Cattleya, except that a different fungus is 
used. M. Bernard remarked, ‘‘ the fungi which succeed well in the case of 
Cattleya, Cypripedium, &c., do not work at all in the case of Odonto- 
glossum.” As regards the latter, the figure showed two tubes, one in which 
Odontoglossum seeds had been sown for four months on the surface of 
nuitritive jelly, but which had simply swelled and turned green without 
making further progress, and it is said that the process could be continued 
for six or seven months in the absence of the fungus with no better results. 
Ina similar culture to which the Odontoglossum fungus had been added 
the seeds were germinating in a regular manner in 24 months, the fungus 
itself was obtained by suitable cultural methods from the roots of the 
Odontoglossum, and M. Bernard was of the opinion that, under appro- 
priate methods, Odontoglossum seeds could be germinated as readily as 
those of Cattleya. 
M. Bernard’s experiments seem conclusive as to the necessity of the 
co-operating fungus, but myriads of seedlings were in existence before the 
discovery was made, and as the said fungus is present in the roots of the 
parents, the whole subject resolves itself into providing suitable methods 
for their propagation. It may be said that wherever Orchids germinate 
successfully, either in a wild state or in our houses at home, the fungi must 
be present all the time, and this would explain why in so many cases the 
compost of a healthy growing plant, or, better still, of a batch of vigorous 
young seedlings, proves the most suitable seed bed. It would appear, how- 
ever, that the fungi, if present, are not invariably active, for seeds may be 
sown on the pots of several plants of the same species, but will only 
germinate on part of them, and for no apparent reason. But there are 
many cases of successful germination quite apart from any existing plant, 
and the question arises as to the precise way in which the fungus was 
transferred to the new site. The fungus can exist apart from the Orchid, 
at all events for a time, but the symbiotic relations between the two would 
suggest that the separation is of a temporary nature. In any case they 
thrive under the same conditions, and success with one should involve 
success with both, if both are present. And here comes the difficulty that 
so little is known about the fungi. Two or three different kinds are said to 
have been isolated, but they remain in the mycelial stage, and without the 
fruit it is not even known to which genus they belong. 
The subject is still involved in uncertainty, and, as Mr. J. M. Black 
once suggested (O.R., xiv. p. 117), some of our Orchid-growing scientists 
might take it up and solve it for us in a practical way, for it ought to be as 
