254 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [AucusT, 191. 
brilliant exceptions. One wishes he had given examples of these disappoint- 
ing cases, so that some opinion about them might be formed. We should 
not expect good results from Cypripedium insigne Sanderianum x insigne. 
The beauty of the former depends upon its yellow colour. It could not be 
used to increase the size or colour of the blotches, and we should only cross 
it with another good yellow, in the hope of getting an improved yellow 
among the seedlings. 
It may be that the cause of disappointment is the large amount of 
variation and reversion commonly met with in secondary hybrids. We have 
seen numerous examples of this, but if the parents have been judiciously 
chosen there are nearly always a few seedlings which possess desirable 
qualities, and the poorer forms can easily be discarded. A small per- 
centage of improvements is perhaps all that need be expected. 
The experiment suggested by Dr. Witt, of selecting the best forms of a 
species and intercrossing them, is thoroughly sound, and we have often 
wondered why it is not more practiced. The answer may be that it is 
cheaper to import them, and that plenty of good forms are obtained in this 
way. Still, there are cases where it would be well worth trying. But it is 
a perfectly distinct question, and would not do away with hybridising. 
Mr. Janke complains about the difficulty of germinating the seeds, but 
this would apply equally to raising seedlings without hybridising, and in 
any case the difficulty can be got over by adopting suitable methods, for 
seedlings of many genera can now be raised with the utmost facility. 
Variation of hybrids from year to year has already been mentioned in 
our pages, and it is a matter on which we are particularly desirious of 
obtaining information. We scarcely think it can be common. 
As regards hybridising generally, we agree with Mr. Karthaus that we 
are only at the beginning of a great development, and we think that 
Hybridisation and Selection will continue to play a great part in the 
improvement of our collections in the future. 
We hope that our readers will give us their ideas on some of the 
points raised, and particularly their experiences with secondary hybrids. 
ORCHIDS IN SEASON. 
‘Two interesting hybrids are sent by Mr. C. F. Karthaus, Potsdam, 
Germany. The first was raised from Cattleya Gaskelliana alba x Leelia 
tenebrosa, and thus will be a form of Leliocattleya Eva. It is fairly 
intermediate in shape, and has light yellow sepals and petals, and some 
‘purple in the throat of the lip. The other is from L. purpurata x L.-c. 
‘Canhamiana, and has white sepals and petals, and a very rich purple lip, 
with a little yellow deepdown in the throat. It is most like L. purpurata, 
but more compact in shape and richer in colour. It is proposed to call it 
: peice igs 
POE ly. eae. ait ee a 
