THE ORCHID REVIEW. 111 
fail to produce results, but very rarely do we miss getting up a few on one 
or more of the pots sown, as the conditions in the seedling house are much 
more favourable than those which obtain in the large, airy structure 
containing the specimen plants. 
Of many points that are debatable that make towards failure or other- 
wise, one we are sure about, namely, that a continuous supply of 
moisture is absolutely essential. If once the seed starts to germinate and then 
becomes quite dried, failure is as certain as that night follows day, therefore, 
in this climate of hot days and long draught, we say, never suspend any pot 
whereon seeds are sown above the level of the eye. We have proved more than 
this—that light is not at all essential to germination; given moisture and 
air we have had them grow in every possible situation on the stages, on the 
outside of the porous pots, and other unlikely places where light was 
obtained in very subdued quantities. 
How frequently do we see it recommended to immerse the receptacles 
containing seeds when it is necessary to apply moisture, but if there was 
one thing that would tempt me to write witha big Don’t, it would be this 
immersion business. In our earlier experiments nothing appealed to me so 
much as the fact that we got up plants from crosses among Cattleyas and 
' Lelias that were considered difficult by others, and how elated were we to 
count in anticipation the number of new plants we were going to—well— 
say, introduce ; but alas, that dipping process had dissipated certain seeds 
through the whole of the seed beds. We have one certain cross that has 
flowered during the past year or more under at least half a dozen different 
labels, and the moral is, no more dipping—for we fear the end of such 
like results is not yet. 
Instead of relying on dipping, as ‘‘ Hybridist ” suggests on p. 20, let the 
beginner try sowing on a number of pots instead of one, and not turn 
faint-hearted if the first lots fail. Nothing brings success like a multitude of 
trials. How often have we congratulated ourselves that we did not keep a 
record of our failures : what lugubrious reading it would make for the amateur 
or beginner. Let me advise keeping a record of those that come up: it will 
be pleasant reading at all times. 
Our results are those of a bona fide beginner, and are intended as 
comments merely on those already printed in your columns from time to 
time. The work was begun after a visit, in 1895, to many of the places in 
Britain, where it was possible to see what had been done in an adverse 
climate, and many times have we recalled the courtsey extended hah 
that trip by the clever cultivators met there. 
The formula recommended by Mr. Cookson (see O. R., vii., p. 144), has 
worked wonders among our seedlings, and we use it at every watering. 
The established plants of the collection do not seem to respond as readily 
