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a Che Orebid Review ~ Ss 
on VoL. XXIV. NOVEMBER, ite No. 287. 8 
ees] OUR NOTE BOOK. es 
T was almost reminiscent of the days before the war to see such a 
magnificent group of autumn-blooming Orchids at the Royal Horti- 
cultural Hall as the one staged by Messrs. Charlesworth on October 24th, 
and the fact that it was awarded a Gold Medal affords an index as to its 
quality. Its composition is indicated in our report on page 276. It is 
interesting in these days of extensive hybridisation to find the brilliant 
Epidendrum vitellinum represented in such quantity, but nothing has yet 
been found to supersede it in its own particular colour. Asa parent it has 
not been a success, for a good many attempts to cross it have been made 
without result (see O.R., xiv. p. 318), and none of the few hybrids that have 
been raised can be called a success. It is too distinct, and its abnormally 
small lip is not a good character to start with, though if its brilliant orange 
colour could be transferred to some of the large-flowered species of the 
Cattleya group some really fine things might be anticipated. 
The hybrids of Cattleya Dowiana, to which we alluded at page 233, 
continue their successful career, for seven out of the nine. Orchids 
certificated by the R.H.S. at its October meetings belong to the Cattleya 
group, and all contain C. Dowiana in some form or another, while in three 
cases it comes in through both parents. It is evident that the search for a 
yellow Cattleya will not go unrewarded, for in C. Thebes var. Britannia 
(Adula x Dowiana aurea), which gained for Messrs. Sander a First-class 
Certificate on October 19th, the sepals are bright cowslip yellow, which 
sets off the ruby-red lip to great advantage. It is interesting to be able to 
record such undoubted progress. 
The allusion to C. Dowiana coming in through both parents, or what 
has been called by Mendelians a “ double dose’”’ of any desired quality, 
reminds us that of the three hybrids above alluded to, one had bronzy 
yellow sepals and petals, one white, and one blush white, and it is 
doubtful whether an examination of the whole of the seedlings from the 
three batches would increase the proportion of yellows. The fact is, this 
257 
