180 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
any doubt in the case seems to lay in the possibility of an accidentally mis- 
placed label, or that dipping process so graphically described by Mr. Orpet. 
Mr. Ames adds:—‘ A satisfactory study of such hybrids, it seems to 
me, can only be made by means of thorough microscopic examinations. To 
maintain that a dwarf habit and so forth indicate hybrid origin seems futile 
while the plants are yet young. For the identification of ordinary hybrids 
the flower and a good description of the foliage seem enough, but where the 
particular group of Epidendrum under consideration is concerned the 
foliage and flowers should be carefully examined, together with the same 
parts of the identical parents with which the cross was originally made.” 
We should like an opportunity of examining a flower of each of these 
forms. 
+ 
ORCHID NOMENCLATURE 
I HAVE been much interested in reading the various suggestions and 
remarks of your correspondents on this much-debated topic, but am afraid 
a Central Orchid Society, so far as it might venture to pose as an 
‘ Authority,’ would be doomed to failure from its inception, and that, for 
reasons which doubtless everyone feels, but carefully avoids stating. It Is 
admitted that such a body is most desirable, but would all Orchid cultiva- 
tors loyally support the ‘‘ Authority ” thus created when their own hybrids 
and varieties came up for judgment, for of course an ‘‘ Authority ’’ must 
either approve or condemn. Where is the grower—who perhaps, has come 
to regard himself as an ‘‘ Authority,” and, may be, even a “ Specialist ’’— 
that would care to run the risk of his treasures being dethroned from their 
high estate and consigned to the oblivion of the past by an unsympathetic 
Central Authority? It is all very right and proper, of course, that the 
pretensious claims of other people’s hybrids and varieties should be strictly 
dealt with, but I am inclined to think the shoe would pinch when it came to 
be tried on the other foot. If this inherent difficulty could be surmounted, 
a Central Society, with a Register, and particularly a set of reliable draw- 
ings, would be of untold value. The innumerable multitude of varieties in 
Cattleyas, Cypripediums, and Odontoglossums, named by all and sundry, 
is perfectly bewildering, but few of them deserving the distinction of even 
a single X, let alone a name. And then, that fearful chaos of hybrids and 
cross-hybrids ; what an endless source of dispute lies here! The authority 
who undertakes to create order in this overwhelming mass of material 
needs, not only every encouragement, but the loyal and hearty support of 
everyone interested in Orchid culture. The question is, would this be 
given? I doubt it—Specraror. ee 
