78 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
heated atmosphere, and thus preserve them in beauty for a much longer 
time.” . 
In 1846 the collection was further “ increased by the noble bequest of 
the Rey. J. Clowes, of Broughton Hall, near Manchester, who willed his 
splendid collection of Orchidee to the Royal Botanic Garden.” : 
According to John Smith (Records, p- 235) ‘in 1848 the number of 
species cultivated at Kew amounted to 755, and in 1850 to 830.” By the 
same authority it is stated in 1864 to have been 638. Four years later the 
Botanical Magazine records about 400, but in 1872 the number of species 
and varieties in cultivation was 851, belonging to 138 genera. Since then 
the coilection has steadily increased, and in 1891 a list of those which 
flowered in the previous year, 766 in number, appeared in the Kew Bulletin. 
Speaking of hybridisation it is remarked :—‘ The great range of species 
which Kew has at its command suggests attempts of this kind. And in the 
genus Disa it has produced crosses which are easy of cultivation and will 
probably become popular as ornamental plants.” 
LYCASTE x IMSCHOOTIANA. 
Tuts handsome hybrid was described at page 8 of our first volume, and it 
may be remembered that there was some doubt about its parentage. It 
was a seedling from Lycaste Skinneri, but Maxillaria nigrescens was said 
to be the pollen parent. We, on the other hand, could see no evidence of 
this, but found strong indications of the influence of Lycaste cruenta, which 
we had no doubt was the other parent. M. Van Imschoot has now written 
confirming this opinion by documentary evidence. He has discovered 
among his records that both the above named crosses were made, but that 
it was the cross with L. cruenta from which L. x Imschootiana was 
obtained, not fromthe other, as wasat first thought. This is very satisfactory 
from every point of view. M. Van Imschoot sends a flower from the 
original plant, together with one from another seedling out of the same 
S$ decidedly larger and paler flowers. The sepals of the 
© nearly 24 inches long by over an inch broad, while the 
-inch longer and proportionately broader. The ground colour 
cream colour instead of light yellow, and the purple-red dots 
wded. The latter, which comes a little nearer to L. Skinnet 
may be called variety pallida. Both show the most unmistakable evidence 
ot the influence of L, cruenta, both in the shape and colour of the lip, and 
in the hue of the sepals and petals. They are certainly very handsome. 
original one ar 
other is half-an 
of the latter is 
rather less cro 
1 
