THE ORCHID REVIEW, 229 
made after comparison of the three plants, two of which are known to be 
subdivisions of one original one. But distinct or not we read:—“ Surely 
such a plurality of names is unnecessary, especially now the Orchid 
Committee has the coloured drawings to fall back upon. There are 
surely blunders enough in the nomenclature of hybrids in the past, where 
distinctive names have been recognised over and over again of plants 
from the same parentage. Continuation of this system can only cause 
greater contusion.” 
A correspondent alludes to the rapidly growing confusion in the 
nomenclature of hybrids in very caustic terms, and admires the candid 
remark made by the Editor of the Gardeners’ Chronicle, reproduced in my 
last month’s notes (p. 196) :—‘‘ We fear that complications of the kind are 
more often intentional than accidental.” And, what is more, he sends two 
or three instances of changes of names and records of parentages, which 
have such a remarkable connection with some recent awards that he cannot 
regard them as merely accidental; and, after perusing them, I regret to 
say that I am forced to the same conclusion. My correspondent asks me to 
give the matter my most careful attention, and I certainly will give an eye 
to the business. The question is certain to crop up again when the records 
and parentages of certain hybrids come to be seriously considered, as they 
eventually must be. And here the matter must remain for the present. 
ARGUS. 
THE NEW ORCHID HOUSES AT KEW. 
DurinG last year, says the Kew Bulletin, the Orchid houses in the Royal 
Gardens, Kew, were entirely re-constructed. The old houses, which were 
erected in 1869, had proved quite unsuited to the cultivation of Orchids 
according to modern practice; they were too lofty, and the plants in 
consequence too far removed from the glass. They were, in fact, almost 
useless except for the temporary exhibition of plants in flower, which had 
been grown in the Orchid pits. ‘The woodwork of the houses had so far 
decayed that their re-construction had become necessary: It was decided 
to carry this out on an entirely different plan. The mixed construction of 
wood and iron (or rather rolled steel) now generally employed at Kew was 
adopted. The tall central stage was abolished, and two Sere 
each 82 feet long and 12 feet wide, were erected on the site which ha 
formerly been covered by a single span. Each range is divided Abe 
transverse partition into a warm and cooler portion. The southern (le 4 
hand) range has an ordinary stage on the left side, and a low bed on t - 
tight for large plants. In the warm portion will be found the species © 
