354 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [DrcCEMBER, 1907. 
.a misidentification, for it is shown that his ‘‘C. labiata” from Rio de 
Janeiro is Lelia lobata, and the one from the Rio Parahyba is Cattleya 
Warneri. Moreover Gardner’s records about the extermination of the 
plants by the cutting down of the forests to make room for plantations of 
coffee—plausible enough as it reads in the face of subsequent events—are 
fortunately unfounded, for the respective species still exist in the localities 
specified. It is remarkable what an amount of legendary matter has 
been interwoven with the history of this beautiful autumn-flowering species. 
In passing, I would remark that the information given by M. Forget 
about the conditions under which the species grow should afford a very 
useful guide as to its culture, as they explain the reason for its particular 
behaviour in a very graphic way. 
M. Forget’s notes on Natural Hybrid Cattleyas (pp. 293-296) are also 
very instructive, and it is a very welcome innovation to find an Orchid 
collector giving such detailed information about the localities where the 
different species grow. I fancy some useful cultural hints could be culled 
from this paper, and doubtless will be by cultivators of this beautiful genus. 
The information given by M. J. Balme respecting the Mexican Lelias (pp: 
302, 303) is equally important. 
The other day the question was asked why a very popular florist’s flower 
was declining in favour, and the reply was ‘‘absence of novelty to stimulate 
and keep alive the interest.” There is probably much in the remark, but it 
is not a malady from which Orchid culture is suffering. Rather might it be 
said'that we have too many novelties. Hybridisation is now progressing 
with such rapid strides that it is difficult to keep in touch with all that ts 
going on. And apart from the fascination of the subject, it is certain that 
real progress is being made. A little sameness and repetition is unavoid- 
able, but selection will remedy that to a great extent in course of time. 
There is a more careful selection of parents now than formerly, and 
hybridists work largely with a definite object in view, both of which make for 
progress. 
Those who deprecate the extent to which hybridisation is now carried 
on sometimes complain that it leads to the neglect of the species, and ! 
think that of late there has come a little reaction. There are so many 
interesting and beautiful species which are obtainable in various ways that 
no wonder they have admirers, even if they fail to become popular. Some — 
of them were touched upon by Mr. F. W. Moore in his recent very interest 
ing lecture at the R.H.S. on the “ Lesser-known Orchids” (pp: 303,304). 
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