244 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
ARE VARIETIES CONSTANT? 
I BELIEVE the explanation of Mr. R. B. White’s peculiar case of different 
spotting in two spikes of Odontoglossum crispum on one plant to be as 
follows :—Suppose a plant has one lead; then the whole plant’s system is 
leading to that one spike, and the consequent spotting of the spotted form 
is (for our purpose) the normal form of that plant. Now, let that same 
plant break back or break in double leads from the leading bulb ; necessarily 
there is a division of the plant’s system, and one of the two leads will be the 
stronger, and derive more matter than the other weaker one; hence the 
spotting of that lead’s spike is poorer than the larger one. If Mr. White 
will carefully note the spotting when the two leads of the plant are equally 
strong, then I have no doubt there will be a very close approximation of the 
character of the spots of all the blooms on each spike. I have proved the 
same circumstance as Mr. White in the following manner :—Having a fine 
spotted crispum I divided it: when the smaller plant bloomed as an 
individual its spots were not so large or so numerous as those of its larger 
sister. In due time the little one will be as good as the other. 
Now, in defence of my former letter, I should have said (see O. Rs 
June, 1897, p. 183) that the one flower borne on the plant in question in 
1896 was on a very weak bulb, in the first season after arrival, in 1895. 
Needless to say, the plant could not possibly show its true character ; it had 
barely time to awake to its new surroundings. As to the absolute constancy 
of a spotted variety, it is hardly fair to write till the imported plant has 
been four or five years well grown after importation, for it is my experience 
that spotted and unspotted forms improve with the size of the plant, till 
they are fully-grown adults, and have attained their greatest individual size. 
In fact, they are like us human beings—they have a time when their powers 
are greatest. When that time has arrived the flowers are finest. Then 
comes the “ down grade” of life, and here is the explanation where the 
millions of crispums have gone that have come to Europe. They attained 
maturity, and ultimately died. Now comes a great question for all of us 
—How are we to keep our plants at their best? Dr. Smee is attacking the 
discovery of the reply from a scientific chemist’s side, and he deserves the 
thanks of all Orchid growers. There is a rich field for all to follow on 
in his researches, as it only needs a small grain of common sense to see the 
difference between the conditions of the primeval Colombian forest home 
of these plants and the European glass structures into which they are 
suddenly transferred, after being shorn of all leaves, and tied on sticks in 4 
dark box for two months by way of a change. It is marvellous what an 
Orchid will suffer and yet live. I contend that we ought, as a theory, to 
grow them on some such lines as these. Stop them all bloom on the first 
