THE ORCHID REVIEW 203 
The list of generic crosses is very interesting, showing a remarkable 
series of successful combinations, which, with other “ partial successes,” 
are illustrated by a diagram. The question of prepotency of one parent is 
specially considered in this connection, as in the case of Epidendrum 
radicans crossed with Sophronitis, Cattleya, and Lelia, all of which most 
resemble the reed-like Epidendrum in habit, and of Zygopetalum with 
Odontoglossum, Oncidum and Lycaste, in which the former is reproduced 
almost unmodified, and the conclusion is reached that it is a case of partial 
reversion towards the more ancestral of the two parent genera. The 
remark, however, that ‘“‘ Zygopetalum is the common ancestor of Odonto- 
glossum, Oncidium and Lycaste,” will probably have to be modified when 
the behaviour of the reversed crosses is known. 
An interesting summary is given of cases where seed pods were pro- 
duced as the result of pollination by various genera without fertilisation 
taking place, and even by the mechanical irritation of the stigma without 
pollen, and the point is emphasised that the mere swelling of the ovary 
and production of a capsule as the result of pollination is no proof that 
fertilisation proper has taken place, without which latter good seeds cannot 
be produced. 
Lastly, the fertility and sterility of hybrids is considered, and it is 
shown that, although many hybrid Orchids are almost or quite as fertile as 
their parents, there is, in the aggregate, a diminished amount of fertility as 
compared with crosses between pure species. This result is obtained from 
the examination of the results of numerous experiments made with the 
genus Paphiopedium by Mr. Reginald Young, of Liverpool. Out of 577 
crosses between 30 distinct species and 53 distinct hybrids, Mr. Young 
succeeded during five years in getting 452 pods of good seed, which 
represents 78.3 per cent. fertile. When analysed the result comes out as 
follows :— 
188 sp. X. sp. yielded 179 pods, or 95.2 per cent. 
143 hyb. X_ sp. 128, i | OOS 45 3 
118 sp, xX hyb -; BF SOF aha 
I24 hyb. x hyb. ” 74 ” . 59-7 7 +” 
A curious fact comes out in this analysis, namely, that in crossing species 
and hybrids together, success is most certain if the hybrid is used as the 
seed parent, the chances being as much as 32.8 per cent. in its favour, 
which, as Mr. Hurst remarks, represents a loss of power in the male 
element of the hybrid, though why this should be so is not easy to explain. 
Many of the facts summarised in this most interesting paper have 
already appeared in the Review and other papers, their source being 
acknowledged by Mr. Hurst, who, in conclusion remarks: ‘‘All these ~ 
experiments and observations prove to us how important it is for Orchid 
