THE ORCHID REVIEW. 325 
Committee have occasionally some difficult questions to decide. They have, 
however, some good working rules, and I hope they will not hesitate to follow 
them. It is not altogether a question of ‘‘ weeds,” however. These might 
almost be left to look after themselves, if only troublesome synonyms 
could be prevented among the showier things. The hybrids between 
Cypripedium barbatum and bellatulum are not weeds, but I once held them 
up as an awful example of what to avoid in nomenclature. With respect 
to the future, it appears to me that difficulties are likely to increase rather 
than diminish, for so many people are now engaged in the fascinating work 
of hybridising Orchids, and the same cross is often made in different 
collections at about the same time. Dendrobium xX Wiganiz supplies an 
excellent illustration of this, being raised in the collections of Sir Frederick 
Wigan, Sir Trevor Lawrence, and Messrs. Veitch, and flowering in each ot 
them in the spring of 1896, though, fortunately, duplication of the name 
was avoided. This forms a very pleasing contrast to the one previously 
mentioned, and affords an excellent guide for the future. 
Let us take a purely suppositious case. Cypripediums, being more easily 
raised than most other Orchids, are experimented with in most collections, 
and a few years ago a new and striking species was introduced in quantity 
in the person of C. Charlesworthii, which flowered for the first time in scores 
of collections within a very short period. At the same time a few widely- 
grown species and hybrids would be flowering in many of these collections, 
affording an opportunity of using the pollen of the new comer, which, I have 
reason to believe, was largely taken advantage of. Some of these crosses 
were successful, and it may be that plants of some particular combination 
are gradually approaching the flowering stage in several different collections. 
_ All, however, will be forms of the same hybrid, and must be treated as such. 
If a case of this kind should arise, the one who succeeds in flowering the 
hybrid first should see that it receives a suitable name, and one in accordance 
with the rules adopted by the R. H. S. Nomenclature Committee, and that 
name should be loyally adopted by the others. 
In order that the confusion which has undoubtedly occurred in the past 
may be avoided as far as possible in the future, I would say to raisers of 
hybrid Orchids :—Carefully preserve the records of all your crosses—When 
a seedling flowers, first ascertain if it has not already been named before 
proceeding to christen it-—When satisfied that it is really new, see that the 
name given is in accordance with rule.—If a secondary hybrid, keep it 
unnamed until satisfied that it is an improvement on existing kinds, or has 
some distinctive character to recommend it.—Lastly, a name being given, 
have it properly recorded, together with the history of the plant. 
ARGUS. 
