ship. After discussing in detail the progress of genetic enquiry, and 
226 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [Aucust 
alluding to the first Conference on Hyoridisation and Plant Breeding 
at Chiswick in July, 1898, remarking that the predominant note eight 
ago was mystery, but now we speak less of mystery than of order, an 
he attributed to the revelation of Mendel’s clue, and the manifold ad 
in knowledge to which it had led. ‘‘ The most protean assembl 
hybrid derivatives,” he remarked, ‘‘no longer menaces us as a hope 
enigma. We are sure that even the multitudinous shapes of the Cuc 
or the polychromatic hues of Orchids—though they may range from 
end of the spectrum to the other—would yield to our analysis.” — Pr 
pursuit, and proposed the use of the word “Genetics,” indicating 
elucidation of the phenomena of heredity and variation, or, in other wo 
the physiology of Descent. Genetics was a subject of vast range, butt 
various phenomena were closely related, and the worker must be wary 
narrowness. ‘‘ While he is engrossed, and perhaps lost, in the idiosynera 
of Orchids a discovery may be made concerning Peas, or it may evel 
Mice or Lepidoptera, which is just what the Orchidist requires to 
away his own obstacles.” Practical and scientific workers had equal | 
of each other’s aid, and had equal prospects of benefitting from the par 
practical importance of the question. As regards the production ofm 
forms that are re-combinations of pre existing characters, he said that in th 
majority of cases no infallible rule can yet be given to produce the des 
result, though Mendelian knowledge often indicates the course which 
most likely to succeed. And he added—‘‘I am not straining the tu 
when I say that the right course is one which an operator guided 
common sense alone would have studiously avoided.”’ As regards 
nature of the units which bring about the phenomena observed, he the 
that, wild and unscrutable as the question sounds, “‘ genetic researe 
answer it yet.” He hoped to see in England a station for the experim 
study of Evolution, as the truth about heredity was not oniy impo 
breeders, but to every branch of physiological or sociological enqul 
great advances in the application of science have generally become P 
through discoveries made in the search for pure knowledge, and M 
incomparable achievement was brought about by the resolute determm™ 
to get to the bottom of one particular problem in hybridisation. 
The first Orchid paper was reached on Tuesday afternoon, but We 
add that in a paper entitled ‘“ Does Hybridisation increase fluctt 
variability ?”” Prof. Johannsen, of Copenhagen, said that the 
statistical and other forms of research did not always agree 
regarded statistical data as very misleading, because Mendel’s Ff 
