244 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
Both hybrids agree wholly with the parent P. Spicerianum in their 
one-flowered scapes, flowering during the winter months, there being 
apparently no trace of the 2-3 flowered summer-flowering P. X selligerum. 
The elongated petals of both show distinctly the influence of the grand- 
parent P. philippinense, but there seems to be no trace of the tessellated 
leaves of the grandparent P. barbatum. These few notes illustrate the now 
well-established fact that hybrids of the second generation are much more 
variable than those of the first generation, and as the pedigree becomes 
more complex, so may we expect variation to increase. 
VU. Gy Boge, &.1..5. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM AT PACHO. 
In the last number of the Orchid Review (p. 220) it is recorded that a 
First-class Certificate and a Cultural Commendation were awarded by the 
Royal Horticultural Society to Messrs. Hugh Low and Co. for 
‘“Odontoglossum crispum Prince of Wales,” which is described as 
aremarkable variety with “twelve bulbs of enormous size and four leads, 
and the plant has taken about eleven years to reach the flowering stage. 
It is the most robust example of the species we have ever seen.” 
What I have been struck with is the length of time the plant has taken 
to reach the flowering stage. To crispum connoisseurs this is not 
encouraging, notwithstanding its magnificent varieties. I have lived 
several years in the Pacho crispum region, and have handled scores of 
thousands of these plants taken fresh from the forest. Thus, from my 
experience, I have no hesitation in saying that so prolonged a_ period 
without flowering is incompitible with the plant in a state of nature. It 
is a remarkable fact that tiny crispum plants flower freely in the forest; 
plants so small that they could be placed in a one-inch pot. Hence the 
contrast between such plants and the eleven year’s cultivated plant is very 
striking. I therefore venture to account for the disparity between the two 
as follows :— 
O. crispum in England is cultivated under conditions of excessive 
humidity, the bright green plump and robust bulbs are unmistakable 
indications of this too genial treatment. It is true that crispums grow in 
the forest where the rainfall is excessive, that is, showers fall almost daily 
for several months at a time, and during these months the plants are 
almost continuously wet, although perched on the trunks and branches of 
trees. Subsequent to the rainy seasons, two of which occur annually, 
several months of brilliant cloudless skies are experienced (I have witnessed 
an absolute drought in the Pacho crispum region lasting four months). 
The crispums then suffer dreadfully, the bulbs and foliage shrink and 
