THE ORCHID REVIEW. 291 



their favour, but the fact that all this can be accomplished in a house of 

 moderate dimensions, with suitable divisions for the warmer and cooler 

 kinds, is a strong additional factor. Certain species which are showy 

 enough in themselves are not very popular on account of the space that 

 they require. 



A combination of several qualities seems necessary to make what may 

 be termed a good garden plant, but such plants are fortunately common among 

 Orchids, and now that they have been taken so completely in hand by the 

 Hybridist the number is rapidly increasing. Hybridisation furnishes the 

 •opportunity for selection, first among the species to be operated with, and 

 afterwards among the offspring, and striking as are the results already 

 ■obtained, it is quite evident that the question is still in its infancy. He 

 would be a bold man who would venture to prophesy what our collections 

 will be like in another generation. But with such signs of progress on every 

 hand it is at least possible to foresee an increased popularity for this beau- 

 tiful class of plants. 



While speaking of progress in hybridisation let me add that I hope an 

 ■effort will be made to keep our records clear. I notice in a recent report 

 that the Manchester Orchid Society gave an Award of Merit to a plant "whose 

 parentage was not stated." The Society has a rule that " Members are 

 requested to state Parentage of all Hybrid Orchids submitted for adjudication 

 when possible, otherwise they are liable to disqualification." It is no doubt 

 -difficult to pass over some beautiful plant which may have been discovered 

 as a stray seedling, or whose origin is involved in doubt for any other reason, 

 but in such cases an effort should be made to solve the parentage by some 

 •other means. In the particular case mentioned, the Committee do not 

 seem to have made any suggestion ; at all events none is recorded, and it is 

 •difficult to see how anyone else who raises the same plant can succeed in 

 identifying it, without either description or record of parentage. Such plants 

 are apt to get lost sight of, unless the question is cleared up later, which is 

 ■often possible. 



We are getting too many of these doubtful plants, and I am inclined to 

 suggest that when they flower again they should be sent to some expert for 

 comparison ; and perhaps it would be as well to include a few others whose 

 looks rather belie the parentage ascribed to them, for I am told that there 

 are many such, and that the number tends to increase. I hope not, for if 

 such is the case it must be rather bewildering to those who keep our 

 records. . m 



