THE ORCHID REVIEW. 303 
merit which could be awarded to every specially deserving subject exhibited, 
without reference to whether some one else had previously received a 
similar award for it, much in the same way as a Cultural Commendation 
is given in recognition of superior culture. But then arises the difficulty 
of what the certificate should be called. As a First-class Certificate has 
at present a definite application it might be preferable to avoid that title, 
though the award should rank as of equal value. ‘It should be an “‘ Award 
of Merit” only, and the latter title would be very suitable, were it not 
now applied in a somewhat different sense. At present it seems to be 
regarded as equivalent to a Second-class Certificate, and to be given only 
once to the same variety, so that the objections urged against the existing 
system in the case of the higher award apply here also with equal force. 
The question under debate is practically the one raised by the Right 
Hon. J. Chamberlain at page 133 of our last volume, in connection with the 
Royal Horticultural Society—namely, the establishment of a ‘“‘ Hall Mark” 
for choice Orchids, an arrangement which, it was urged, would give to 
plants which had passed the test an assured and increased value, which in 
its turn would attract choice Orchids to the meetings, in the hope of gaining 
the award, and thus the Shows would increase in interest, to the financial 
benefit of the Society. Whether it is desirable, however, to establish 
another class of certificate, is doubtful, especially if some alteration of the 
conditions under which existing ones are granted could be made so as to 
meet the difficulty. In granting a Cultural Commendation to a deserving 
subject no question of a previous award is considered, and it is difficult to 
see why different regulations should govern the award of a Certificate of 
Merit. The tendency to reduce the value of the certificates, which the 
suggested new arrangement might have, could easily be met, if necessary, 
by a slight raising of the standard of merit. 
Whatever the decision of the Society may be on this occasion, it seems 
probable that some change in the direction indicated will be effected in the 
near future, for, as already pointed out, existing arrangements leave some- 
thing to be desired, and something must be done to meet the difficulty. 
MASDEVALLIA LAUCHEANA. 
A PLANT of this pretty little species is flowering freely in the Kew collection. 
It is a comparatively recent addition to the genus, being figured and 
described as M. Laucheana, Kranzl. Mss., in the recent Masdevallia 
Monograph (Woolw. Masd., with plate). In this work the remark occurs: 
‘‘T can obtain no information as to its origin or habitat,’’ but some of these 
particulars I am able to furnish. The species was introduced by Messrs. 
F..Sander & Co., who flowered and sent it to Kew for determination in 
