THE ORCHID REVIEW. 327 
and indeed several other parts of this exhaustive paper, had to be taken 
as read. The lecturer, next touching upon Odontoglossum crosses, 
some of which had confirmed the origin and parentage of certain wild 
forms which had always been considered by botanists to be natural 
hybrids. Respecting the influence of foreign pollen on the ripening 
of the seed, it was remarked that experiments -conducted in different 
years and at different seasons were not conclusive, because sun heat, 
which was a very potent factor in,determining the period of ripening, 
varied so much at different periods. 
Concerning generic crosses, Mr. Hurst pointed out that twenty-six 
genera had now been crossed together in different ways, and of these a 
diagram was shown. Some of them were very curious, as those from 
Epidendrum radicans, which, used as the pollen parent with Sophronitis 
grandiflora, Cattleya Bowringiana and Laelia purpurata, had in each 
case exerted a largely preponderating influence on the hybrid offspring. 
Conversely, Zygopetalum Mackayi crossed with Oncidium, Lycaste, 
and more than one species of Odontoglossum, had invariably reproduced 
the mother plant, almost, if not quite unmodified, a fact which was 
‘seemingly inexplicable, for in some cases, at least, self-fertilisation was 
clearly not the cause, and parthenogenesis also seems out of the question. 
The fertility and sterility of hybrids was also discussed, the latter heing 
attributed more to the male than the female element. The full report 
in the Society’s Journal will be awaited with interest by Orchid growers. 
Mr. H. J. Veitch, who was in the chair, alluded to the great interest 
of the subject, and called on Mr. Rolfe for a few remarks. 
Mr. Rolfe said that he had listened to Mr. Hurst's paper with the 
deepest interest. It was a paper crowded with details, many of which, 
owing to want of time, had had to be omitted, and consequently it was 
difficult to discuss it at that moment. One or two things, however, had 
struck him which he might allude to. A paper of this kind was necessarily 
based, to a large extent, upon published records, and some curiosities 
had been recorded which, to say the very least, required confirmation. 
Take, for example, the case of Cypripedium Godefroyae crossed with 
the pollen of C. niveum, which is said to have yielded examples of both 
the parents, together with C. concolor, C. bellatulum, C. leucochilum, 
and about fifty intermediate forms. As to that record, he was extremely 
sceptical. The results were too improbable, and he felt certain that if 
the whole history of that variegated assemblage could be traced another 
explanation could be given. He could not say what it would be, but 
everyone knew the various ways in which errors might creep in. According 
to that record one might expect the cross from C. insigne and C. 
Spicerianum to yield not only various forms of C. xX Leeanum, but also 
