110 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
THE HYBRIDIST. 
DENDROBIUM X BACKHOUSEI. 
Mr. CypHER has sent me some further particulars about the interesting 
hybrid Dendrobium described at page 76. It was raised by Messrs. James 
Backhouse and Son, of York, from D. nobile 2 and D. thyrsiflorum ¢, 
the cross being effected in April, 1890, and the seed sown in the following 
year. One small plant is said to have flowered last year with Messrs. 
Backhouse. The one described last month from the collection of G. F. 
Moore, Esq., is said to show the influence of the pollen parent distinctly in 
habit, as well as in the light yellow tint suffused through all the segments, 
although the characters of D. nobile decidedly preponderate. Whether it 
will ever develop the racemose character of D. thyrsiflorum remains to be 
seen, but we would suggest that the reverse cross should be attempted ; 
also that D. thyrsiflorum might be crossed with the pollen of the present 
one, as the difficulty which has been found in crossing the two sections of 
the genus might thus be diminished. D. xX Backhousei is certainly a most 
interesting hybrid, and the qualities of its parents afford an indication of 
what it will develop into. 
Referring to our enquiry at page 76, S. G. Lutwyche, Esq., Eden Park, 
Beckenham, writes that he knows of another hybrid between the two 
sections of the genus, t.c., D. densiflorum x D. nobile. The plant is 
probably strong enough to flower this season, and he hopes to be able to 
send a note respecting it, and also a flower, if he can procure one. This 
record would indicate D. densiflorum as the seed parent, which is interesting, 
as it belongs to a section which has proved difficult to hybridise. A 
similar remark, however, would apply to the record of the preceding given 
last month, which has now to be amended. Records sometimes get 
transposed in passing from hand to hand, especially if one trusts to memory, 
and we may remark in passing that in writing down a record of parentage 
in this way the name of the seed parent should invariably be placed first, 
when it explains itself. 
EPICATTLEYA X MATUTINA. 
TuIs is a most interesting hybrid, raised by Messrs. James Veitch and Sons 
from Cattleya Bowringiana ? and Epidendrum radicans 3, and exhibited 
at the Royal Horticultural Society’s meeting on March 23rd. The plant has 
the erect, reed-like habit of the pollen parent, and flowers about two inches 
in diameter, yellow tinged with vermillion. In one form the lip was ovate 
and irregularly notched, but in another more trilobed, approaching the 
pollen parent. It is curious to note the greatly preponderating influence 
of the pollen parent, which is also seen in the case of Epiphronitis X 
Veitchii, and it would be a most interesting matter if the reverse cross were 
