228 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [ AUGUST, 1907. 
Poole, Esq., in Australia, and Mrs. Thwaites kindly undertook the task of 
germinating it. The cross is Cattleya Mendelii and C. Mossiz, and 
should Mr. Poole have been less successful it is hoped that some of the 
seedlings may be strong enough to take a second journey across the ocean 
in about a year’s time. Two particularly interesting Dendrobium seedlings 
must also be mentioned. These are from D. atroviolaceum and D. 
crepidatum, in each case crossed with D. Brymerianum, and their flowering — 
is awaited with great interest. 
In another house we saw Lelia majalis x tenebrosa in sheath, with 
several other things, also L. xanthina x C. Mossiz Wageneti (a form 
of Leliocattleya Norba) in flower, together with L.-c. Martinetii and L.-c. 
epicasta. C. Schilleriana x Schroeder was in bud, but some have already 
flowered, also C. intermedia alba X C. Mossize Wageneri. A form of 
Dendrobium X chessingtonense with cream-coloured sepals and_ petals 
and a dark brown disc to the lip was also in bloom. There was also 
a pod of Miltonia spectabilis’Moreliana, but previous ones have contained 
no seed, so we only mention the fact. 
Mrs. Thwaites is certainly one of our most expert hybridists, and we 
must congratulate her and her able chief, Mr. Black, on such remarkable 
progress. We hope to record the results hereafter. 
ORCHIDS AT COOKSBRIDGE. 
THE establishment of Messrs. J. & A. A. McBean has long been famous for 
its Odontoglossums, and we have heard it said that nowhere in England 
are they grown better. The other day, through the kind invitation of 
Mr. & Mrs. Thwaites, of Streatham, to accompany them to Cooksbridge in _ 
their motor car, we had. the pleasure of seeing them, and found our 
expectations fully realised. The great majority of the plants are fully 
established, and their size and vigour are remarkable, while nearly every 
leaf is perfect. The almost uniform excellence speaks of perfect conditions 
of culture. 
We first entered a house—roo feet long—chiefly devoted to Odonto- 
glossum crispum, and noticed that the span was rather steep, with ample 
top ventilation and shading, open stages, and tanks for watering at 
convenient places. The plants are potted in peat fibre and sphagnum 
moss, and all seemed to be on the dry side, but, as Mr. McBean remarked, 
it is difficult to overwater so porous a compost. Most of the plants wer 
large sturdy specimens, and remarkably vigorous, a good selection being 10 
flower, showing spikes of corresponding strength, and sometimes two from 
the same bulb. We counted spikes of twelve and fourteen flowers of great 
substance. It seemed a very bright situation, rather ample shade being 
required. We enquired the cause of such vigour, and Mr. McBeap 
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