230 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [AUGUST, 1907. 
explained that he had found this necessary, as previously he could rarely 
get seedlings beyond the globule stage. He showed us some that were 
germinating on the pots beneath, which were about to be pricked off and 
placed in the cases, and others that had been removed from the cases too 
soon, and had to be returned because the tiny leaves were turning yellow 
and shrivelling. They were now recovering. We suggested that the houses 
were not quite shady and moist enough for seedlings in their early stage. 
Mr. McBean had encountered what for many years was the great 
obstacle to Odontoglossum raising, as it was frequently remarked that tiny 
_ green globules were produced, but they could not be carried further. This 
was at first a mystery, and then the need for some special fungus was 
suggested, but we think that the real cause is now apparent. Tiny seed- 
lings have been known to vanish suddenly when the grower was away, 
through a little drought or too much sun, and this, at all events, was not due 
to the absence of a fungus. We long ago suggested that such tiny mites 
were very delicate in their infantile stages, and we believe that those who 
have succeeded best have adopted a rather moister and shadier treatment 
than is usually given to established plants. Babies will always require a 
little extra care or special treatment, and unless a house can be set aside for 
the treatment necessary for seedling Odontoglossums it is as well to provide 
a rather moister and shadier compartment for them on the lines above 
described. 
But to return. Some of the seedlings mentioned had four leaves and 
looked quite promising. Underneath were germinating seedlings on the 
parent plants, the latter stood on the central pedestal of saucers of water 
to ward off the attacks of marauders. They are destined for the special 
treatment. mentioned,.as otherwise Mr. McBean estimated that not one in 
a thousand would survive. The work of hybridising is now being taken up 
in earnest, and in connection with a nice batch of the brilliant Cochlioda 
Neetzliana in the next house it was remarked that the intention was to cross 
it. with all the best Odontoglossums. In fact they have a few crosses 
already. Here we noted good examples of O. Harryanum, Pescatorei, X 
Adriane, X mulus and xX Wilckeanum, some nice flowering plants of 
Epidendrum vitellinum, Miltonia vexillaria, Oncidium macranthum, the 
curious O. saltabundum, O. crispum, O. Forbesii, and Cymbidium Low- 
ianum, the latter having been in bloom for three months. There was also 
a very remarkable Odontoglossum crispum xanthotes, having a large deep 
yellow blotch on each sepal and another on the lip, the petals being white. 
It was a tiny plant, purchased in flower, and should develop into a splendid 
thing. Here, too, was pointed out a batch of Vanda ccerulea in the most 
robust health. 
A small house of Lelia anceps is said to contain all the finest white 
