230 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [AUGUST, IQII. 
SEEDLINGS OF DENDROBIUM FORMOSUM. 
On April 15th last I received from Mansell & Hatcher, of Rawdon, Yorks., 
a few plants of Dendrobium formosum giganteum, which started into 
activity promptly, and have made very satisfactory growths. On the 12th 
of this month (July) I discovered a few seedling Orchids on the roots of 
some of these plants, the largest being about half an inch in height, and 
putting out its fourth rudimentary leaf. Two points about this seem very 
interesting ; first, that the seed should retain its vitality so long, for I 
Suppose it must have been nearly six months from the time the plants were 
gathered to the time they reached my house; and, second, that the seed, 
after once starting, should make such a growth in less than three months, 
for I am certain it had not germinated when the plants came to my green- 
house. The roots of the old plants seem to make a better place for 
germination than our made seed-beds. F. J. LE Moyne. 
Melvale, Maryland, U.S.A. 
This is extremely interesting, and serves to recall a case which was 
recorded in our pages in 1900 (O.R., viii. p. 314). ‘‘ Leopold de Rothschild, 
Esq., Gunnersbury House, Acton (gr. Mr. Hudson), sent a very interesting 
specimen of Dendrobium formosum giganteum, with several seedlings round 
it, one of which was in flower. The original plant was imported in 1897, 
and some seed which was among the roots germinated, and the seedlings 
have steadily grown on until reaching the flowering stage—a circumstance 
which says much for the excellent culture of the plant, and which was. 
recognised by the Award of a Cultural Commendation.” 
A somewhat different case was recorded in 1906, in-an account of the 
collection of the late Sir Frederick Wigan, Bart., Clare Lawn, East Sheen 
(O.R., xiv. p. 300). Speaking of half-a-dozen seedling plants in bloom of 
D. formosum, it is remarked: ‘‘ These are four years old, and have been 
grown from a mature capsule found on an imported plant. The yellow on 
the flower varies considerably, in one case being orange-coloured and in 
another light yellow.” 
It would appear that seedlings of D. formosum are very easily raised, 
and as regards the second point mentioned by Mr. Le Moyne it would be 
interesting to try the roots of an imported D. formosum asa seed-bed, 
especially for Dendrobiums which do not germinate very readily, while 
other seeds of the same batch might be sown in the usual way for 
comparison. The late M. Noel Bernard attributed the failure of many 
Orchid seeds to germinate in the absence of the necessary symbiotic fungi, 
and the mass of living roots should be an ideal seed-bed for Dendrobiums 
that require similar treatment, and possibly for some other genera.—Eb. 
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