232 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
There is probably no authentic case of a dark, heavily spotted variety 
reverting to the normal form one year, to a pale or unspotted one the next, 
and then back again. Such erratic variations are practically, if not alto- 
gether, unknown. 
There is one class of so-called ‘“ varieties’? which cannot be described 
as constant, namely, those due to culture alone, and probably these, more 
than anything else, have given rise to the idea that varieties are not always 
constant. But the fact is, these are not varieties at all in the true sense of 
the word, but only ptional develop of some ordinary form, owing 
to some ptional ci A plant may have become exception- 
ally strong through good culture, or possibly through being in some pat- 
ticular position in the house, or not having flowered the previous year, 
hence the flowers may be of exceptional size, or the colour more highly 
developed than in others perhaps grown in the same house. Such a plant may 
be labelled asa distinct variety, but the following year the peculiar conditions 
may not be repeated, or may be even reversed, and in such cases it is quite 
possible to jump at the conclusion that varieties are not permanent, instead 
of attributing the fact to its real cause. Plants that are only potted about 
once in three years sometimes experience a check the first year, but do 
extremely well the second, after which there may be a little falling away 
the third year owing to the compost becoming exhausted. Of course thes 
are many varieties of exceptional size or colour, which are not in any way due 
to culture, and these are varieties in the true sense of the word, and subject 
to fluctuations under good or bad treatment, but yet retaining their own 
essential character. 
An accidental change of labels may also give rise to an idea oe 
Varieties are not always permanent, but such cases, of course, cannot be 
taken into consideration. 
We could enumerate many cases of varieties which are absolutely com 
stant in all their essential characters from year to year, anda few where 
small changes have occurred in the size and number of the spots, or even@ 
little in depth of colouring, and we should be glad if others would send us 
their experience on the subject, as it isa question of some importance i 
purchasers of Orchids. Of course, the occasional occurrence of abnorm 
flowers, or of change of sex in the genera Catasetum and Cycnoches, som® 
times mis-called sporting,” cannot be held to affect the question in any 
way. True sporting, or the sudden production of a distinct variety a 
some well-known plant, of course, is not excluded, though examples — 
Orchids are exceedingly rare, and we can only call to mind the remarkable 
case of Cypripedium x Dauthieri, which has already been recorded yy 
our pages. Another very curious case has recently arisen which 
recorded on another page. 
