THE ORCHID REVIEW. 35 
At the invitation of the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society, Mr. 
R. A. Rolfe will read a paper at the Hybridisation Conference, entitled 
‘“‘ Hybridisation viewed from the standpoint of systematic botany,” and he 
would be obliged for records of the results of any experiments undertaken 
with the view of proving the origin of supposed natural hybrids, both 
among Orchids and other plants. Several are already on record, but 
seedlings of other crosses are in existence, and these he would be glad to 
hear of, whether they have flowered or not. | 
Instances of Paphiopedilums with twin-flowered scapes are common, 
but the occurrence of three flowers in the normally one-flowered group 
is very rare. A photograph of a plant of P. X Rossianum (barbatum X 
tonsum), in the collection of H. J. Ross, Esq., of Florence, shows a plant 
in this condition, and testifies to the vigour of the plant. We have once 
seen P. Spicerianum with a three-flowered scape. 
A photograph of a magnificent plant of Lelia albida has been sent from 
the collection of the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P., Highbury, 
Birmingham, by Mr. Smith. It is much the finest example of this species 
which we have seen, and carries thirty-two spikes, with an aggregate of 
139 flowers, forming quite a picture. 
Eight classes are devoted to Orchids at the Exhibition of Chrysanthe- 
mums and other plants, to be held by the Société Royale d’Agriculture et 
de Botanique de Gand, on November 12th to 14th next. They are for the 
best group, 12 Cattleya labiata, 12 Cypripediums, 6 distinct Odontoglossums, 
the best Orchid in flower, the best Vanda, the best Cypripedium, and a 
similar class to the latter, limited to plants raised from seed by the 
exhibitor. Gold and other medals are offered as prizes. 
Lelia anceps alba, a true albino, and the old L. a. Dawsoni are sent 
from the collection of W. Thompson, Esq., by Mr. Stevens, together with 
L. a. Hilliana and the fine L. a. Schroederiana, all of which are very 
beautiful. There is also a very fine seedling Dendrobium from D. n. 
nobilius x D. x splendidissimum grandiflorum. 
Much sympathy will be felt with Mr. Stevens in the loss he has 
sustained in the death of his eldest son on January 18th. The deceased 
had attained the age of thirty, and for some years had acted as his father’s 
assistant. He was a promising Orchid grower and has raised many 
seedlings, some of which will probably he heard of hereafter. He will 
long be remembered by a plant belonging to another group, namely, 
Eucharis X Stevensii, which was raised by him, and flowered for the first 
time in 1885. The cross was made when young Stevens was about 14 
years old. 
