“76 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [MaRcH, 1912. 
-others BC (assuming these hybrids to have also been raised), while others 
will show varying combinations of the characters of the three original 
species, as in the well-known case of Cypripedium aureum. Reversion now 
becomes more or less apparent, some of the forms most resembling their 
grandparents, as was remarked by Mr. Seden of Leliocattleya fausta, the 
first secondary hybrid raised by him. When primary hybrids are self- 
fertilised partial reversion to the original parent species is also seen, as in 
the case of Epidendrum kewense. In the case of a hybrid recrossed with 
-one of its original parents partial, if not complete reversion, is not at all 
uncommon, and it is believed that this is the cause of the many anomalous 
features seen in imported Odontoglossum crispum, in some of which what 
chas been termed the “remains of hybridity” are apparent. Parallel cases 
have already appeared among artificially-raised Odontoglossums. 
The phenomena of diversity among secondary and more complex hybrids 
-are due to the dissociation of mixed or hybrid character, as the result of 
incompatibility. A hybrid isa mosaic, and its reproductive cells, pollen and 
-ovules, are not uniform in composition like those of species, but contain the 
hereditary influences of the original parent species in varying proportions. 
If dissociation were complete and similar cells united to form the new indi- 
vidual, the result would be complete reversion to that particular parent. 
‘Complete reversion, however, seldom takes place—at all events in a single 
-generation—but partial reversion is one of the commonest phenomena 
among secondary hybrids, and it arises from dissociation in the sexual cells 
‘which unite to form the new generation. It will thus be seen that there is 
‘no possible method of controlling this development and of securing uniformly 
good results. The only method is to select the best possible parents for 
-each sncceeding generation, avoiding combinations of diverse characters 
which experience has shown leads to undesirable results. There is no royal 
road to success. 
ORCHIDS OF JAMAICA. 
‘An account of the Orchids met with by Dr. Shafer in his recent trip to 
Panama was given last month (pp. 46, 47). On leaving Panama he 
-crossed to the Island of Jamaica, where he also found a number of 
interesting Orchids. During a drive to Castleton Gardens, near Kingston, 
-several plants of Oncidium luridum were obtained from trees growing by 
the roadside. On the steep slopes bordering the road, half hidden among 
tall grasses and ferns, several plants of Bletia purpurea (verecunda) and a 
-single specimen of Habenaria monorrhiza were found, and, farther on, near 
‘Castleton, on a shady hillside, a few plants of the dark purple Bletia florida 
(Shepherdii), the only other Bletia found on the island. 
Near Spanish Town, on low land near the coast, Broughtonia sanguinea 
