THE ORCHID REVIEW. 103 
FERTILITY OF HYBRIDS. 
IN a recent discussion the question of the fertility of mules, or hybrids, 
was raised, the impression among some being that all true mules were 
sterile ; should they prove fertile, it was argued to mean that hybridity was 
not present, even though so-called bigeners. The discussion arose owing to 
the statement that our experience had proved that parents of hybrid 
origin were more fertile than mere varieties, or even species, in the pro- 
duction of their kind. Take Epidendrum x O’Brienanum as an example. 
We have succeeded in raising from and through it many crosses; Cattleya 
amethystoglosssa when fertilised with it gives us a fine Epicattleya; with 
Sophronitis, it gives us hundreds of seedling Epiphronitis now in bud; 
when crossed with Cattleya xX Claesiana it produced myriads of plants ; 
and so on, seemingly because of its hybrid origin; whereas, Epidendrum 
radicans and E. cinnabarinum have never yet given us a pod, though tried 
times without number. 
We could name other cases, but this will suffice. The question raised 
is as to whether E. x O’Brienanum is a true mule, and we would be glad 
to get the opinion of the Editor and others in this connection. There 
seems to be quite a little confusion among cultivators as to what is a hybrid 
and what is a cross. Taking any of the Cattleya labiata varieties, such 
as C. Mendelii and C. Mossiz, and raising seedlings between them 
would not give hybrids, we take it, but mere crosses ; but, were that section 
-Mated with any of the two-leaved species, such as C. Bowringiana or C. 
guttata, would the progeny be regarded as hybrids ? 
We have proved, or come so near proving, that many true species are 
impotent, in that we cannot get results by their use, but have, so far, not 
noticed that any Orchid of garden origin fails us in this respect. We have 
in flower now over a dozen Epidendrums, with many more in bud, as the 
result of crossing E. xX O’Brienianum with E. radicans and E. cinna- 
barinum ; all except one havé the lax flower spike traceable to E. evectum ; 
all are decorative enough to be worth growing, and are of better habit than 
the sprawling E. X O’Brienianum, but only one is animprovement on any 
of the kinds connected with its origin, and, strange to say, all the ——— 
of the flowers are spotted with dark red over a rich scarlet ground, with a 
compact head of flowers like E. radicans. We find that these reed-like 
Plants can be made to bear seed and flower within two years from crossing, 
and it would be a very interesting pastime could we give space to it. 
S. Lancaster, Mass., U.S.A. E. O. ORPET. 
(WE should say that all seedlings raised by the intercrossing of distinct 
Species are true hybrids. Many such plants are now known to be fertile, 
and this supposed test fails. There is room for difference of opinion in 
