366 ‘THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
HYBRID ORCHIDS. 
THE great popularity to which Orchids have now attained is alone sufficient 
reason why such a journal as the ORCHID Review is an absolute necessity, 
A want of general scientific principles, however, is another reason, and I 
have no doubt that the ORcHID Review will greatly aid in solving the 
question of the “‘ nomenclature of hybrids,” I hope so; and the rules which 
you advocate appear to be all that is necessary, if loyally observed by all 
concerned. 
The ‘ History of Orchid Hybridisation” is capital, and greatly needed, 
and ‘“‘The Hybridist ” seems to be only a continuation of that work. May I 
suggest that ‘‘ The Hybridist ” should be a guidance to the hybridiser, in order 
that the result of his patience may be the production of a flower equal, if 
not superior in point of beauty, to the parents. 
It is generally acknowledged that the majority of hybrids are inferior to 
one or the other of the parents, sometimes both, while a comparatively few 
are recognised as great successes, and perhaps many of these have been 
obtained haphazard. Has not the hybridisation of Orchids generally been 
carried on in the dark, without any other principle than that of getting a 
hybrid? If so, why should it continue so in the future, now that we have 
the ORcHID Review? Could not good work be done in this direction if 
those having had experience could be induced to record the result of their 
observations? The beginner could then refer to what has been done in the 
past, and frame his footsteps accordingly. For instance, how to proceed in 
order to improve the sepals, petals, and lip, or the colour, shape, size, or 
any other special quality desired. Also whether the progency most 
frequently resemble the seed-bearing or pollen-producing parent, etc. 
I think a collection of general ideas on the subject would be very in- 
teresting and us-ful, together with hints as to when to effect a cross, 
the best methods of bringing the seeds to perfection, and of securing 
healthy germination. 
In addition to other seedlings which we have raised here, it may interest 
your readers to know that we have a healthy batch of about a dozen plants 
obtained by crossing Sobralia macrantha with the pollen of Cattleya gigas. 
sees H. A. BURBERRY. 
Highbury Gardens, Moor Green, Birmingham. 
‘We shall be only too pleased to publish such notes as Mr. Burberry 
mentions, if our readers will kindly send the results of their experiments. It 
may be that in some cases the work has been carried on without any very 
definite guiding principles, but this can hardly be said of many of the crosses 
effected at the present day. In the early days of hybridisation everything 
had to be discovered, but now we can benefit by the experience of our pre 
