104 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
some cases as to what constitutes a species, but we do not consider Cattleya 
Mossize and C. Mendelii as simply varieties of C. labiata. At the very 
least they are well-marked geographical sub-species, having their own 
characters, and their own varieties. This question was exhaustively discussed 
at pages 266-270 of our third volume. There can be no question as to 
the distinctness of Epidendrum evectum from E. radicans, and consequently 
none that E. xX O’Brienianum is a true hybrid. The question of its 
fertility is interesting, and on this point evidence is fortunately accumu- 
lating. It is certainly remarkable to find that seedlings can be got to 
flower within two years from crossing, and we should like to have complete 
details on this ‘ye —ED. ] 
DENDROBIUM x VENUS. 
I write toask if any correspondents of the OrcHID ReviEW have 
experienced the same difficulty in flowing this lovely hybrid as I have had 
for the last two seasons. This hybrid is a cross between Denbrobium 
Falconeri and D. nobile, and is most lovely when. it blooms freely. My 
plant is a fairly large one and very healthy, being about three feet in height 
and having many strong growths. It grows most vigorously, and produces 
flower buds very freely, and these buds swell up quite regularly until they 
are about three-quarters of an inch in length and begin to show their 
proper colour. Now comes a most mysterious change, as some of the buds 
expand most beautifully, while others suddenly stop and die off quite 
shrivelled. 
This Dendrobe is grown, along with others, in a special house, and its 
summer temperature ranges from 70 degrees by day (more by sun heat), 
with a drop of 5 degrees, or more, at night, until the growth is made, and 
then it is removed to the resting house, where it is kept comparatively dry, 
until its flower buds are well in evidence. I have had the same trouble for 
two seasons, and am much disappointed, for at least two-thirds of the 
blooms are lost in the way I have described. Whether the cause lies in the 
difference in habit of the two parents or of some cultural sdb am at 4 
loss to understand, and am most anxious to find out. 
Bridge Hall, Bury. O. O. WRIGLEY. 
(We should be glad to have the experience of others on this point. 
Meantime we may remark that one parent, namely D. Falconeri, requires 
somewhat different treatment from many others, as was pointed out at page 
86 and in previous volumes, and it may be that the pecularity extends in 
some measure to its offspring. The matter is worth testing by ope 
—EDITOR.} 
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