‘TI2 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [APRIL, Ig10. 
abbreviation to C. X Murrayi fulgens. Some of these days we may have a 
‘Cattleya x Lord Rothschild var. alba, but how much more euphonious 
*C. X Rothschildianum alba would be, for in such cases the abbreviation 
‘“‘var.’’ is unnecessary, being understood. We have already a white 
Brassocattleya Veitchii, which is called Brassocattleya Digbyano-Mossiz 
~var. Queen Alexandra when our scribes have time to write it, and our label 
writers the necessary space. When not, they call it B.-c. Queen Alexandra, 
‘but the omission of the specific name is not correct. We can legitimately 
-abbreviate it to B.-c. Veitchii var. Queen Alexandra. One specific name 
‘is on record consisting of five words and twenty-five letters, which the 
-authors of the Stud-Book have abbreviated to a single word of seven letters. 
If such a case does not justify a rule being made retrospective justification 
iis impossible, and chaos inevitable. What is wanted is a frank recognition 
-of the fact that rules are necessary to an orderly arrangement, and that 
‘they were made to be carried out. It is the neglect to carry out a few 
‘comparatively simple rules that is chiefly responsible for the growing 
.confusion in nomenclature. 
ADAPTATION OF THE PLANT TO THE SOIL. 
“THIS question, which was the subject of the two last Masters’ Memorial 
Lectures, given by Mr. A. D. Hall, F.R.S., is of great practical interest to 
Orchid growers, and a hint thrown out by the Lecturer might be followed 
_up with advantage. Speaking of the varying composition of soils as 
.affecting the development of bacteria causing nitrification, he remarked 
ithat many classes of plants—certain Ericas, Conifers, and Orchids—derive 
‘their food supplies from the soil by the aid of the mycelium of certain 
.fungi with which their roots are associated. Such cases of mycorhiza are 
associated with acid soils in which nitrates are lacking; probably the 
‘mycelium of the special fungi cannot stand the competition with bacteria 
in neutral or slightly alkaline soil in which bacteria flourish. The associa- 
‘tion of acidity or neutrality of soil with particular plants would seem to be 
an ecological factor worthy of more observation. Carbonate of lime is 
regarded as poisonous to certain plants (e.g., peat-lovers), but this is 
probably not a positive injurious action of the lime on the plant, but a 
secondary one in that the lime removes the acid soil conditions which these 
plants find necessary. When protected from competition, as under 
cultivation, he remarked that growth does not depend upon what might be 
called vitality or constitution, but upon food supply. The Lecturer 
-concluded by stating that his lectures had been all along directed to 
indicating our ignorance and the field for work that is open. In the present 
state of our knowledge it is vanity to dogmatise about the requirements in 
the way of soil of more than a few plants. 
