SEPTEMBER, 1907.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 271 
will be equally as acceptable, for they will command a “breeding” value 
as being far more likely to cross freely upon Odontoglossums than Coch- 
lioda itself, as information hereunder proves, which has been placed at my 
disposal by J. Bradshaw, Esq., The Grange, Southgate. 
Although the reason is not definitely known, it is generally considered 
that the pollen tubes of a Cochlioda have not the power of freely pene- 
trating the longer column of an Odontoglossum, though this is not an 
absolute rule, for I have raised plants of O. Hallii @ x C. Noetzliana ¢, 
and O. Hallii has one of the longest columns in the genus. 
This brings me to the subject of C. Noetzliana as a pollen parent, about 
which I wish to clear up a misapprehension in the article in the June issue 
for 1907 (p. 181). At that time I had plants of three Odontoglossums 
crossed with C. Noetzliana, hence it was unlikely I should have stated it 
could not be effected. {We clearly made a mistake in transcribing a hurried 
note as to the difficulty of utilising this species as a pollen parent—a 
difficulty we have long known—and the statement attributed to Mr. 
Crawshay was probably a mental confusion with some earlier one, and 
would not have arisen had Mr. Crawshay pointed out the advance he had 
then made in this particular detail.—Ep.] 
The information regarding crosses with C. Noetzliana as the pollen 
parent in the ‘‘ Thwaites Collection” (see Orchid Review, August, 1907, 
P- 227), is most interesting, and corroborates my above made statement 
regarding the ramifications one may expect. I hope to see many additions 
to our knowledge herein as time progresses, for if it be possible to raise 
freely upon Odontoglossums, of course much time will be gained by getting 
increased size in the primary hybrids, this being proved by the comparison 
of X O. Vuylstekez with any of the others raised by using Cochlioda as 
the mother parent. 
Ifthe reason of our frequent failure with Odontoglossum as the seed 
parent be as it is supposed, there can be no doubt but that the hybrids will 
remove much of the disability, and the first seed pod upon O. crispum 
obtained in this way will be the nearest approach to a scarlet form of O. 
crispum, which is so anxiously awaited. Mr. Bradshaw has healthy pods 
upon O. X crispo-Harryanum and O. Rossii fertilised by the pollen of 
the original Odontioda Bradshawiz, and these should materially aid in 
gaining size in the resulting crosses. He informs me that two crispums 
failed to give pods. : 
Respecting the failures in this case—and I have examined scores of 
them—I find that the pollen tube has never penetrated to the ovary, even 
though the column swells normally, as does the ovary so2 less degree, the 
pollen seems to decay upon the stigma and effect irritation only, and 
hot impregnation. 
