14 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [ JANUARY, 1909. 
THE TWENTY BEST HYBRID CYPRIPEDES. 
Tue task of selecting the twenty best hybrid Cypripedes is not an easy one, 
and is likely to show much diversity of opinion. Mr. Samuel Gratrix, 
West Point, Whalley Range, Manchester, sends the following as his 
selection :— 
C. x Actzus, West Point var. C. X Golden Glow. 
C. x A. J. Balfour. C. x Leeanum Gratrixiz. 
C. X alportense. C.' xX Leone, Gratrix’s var. 
C. X Archimedes. C. X Minos Youngii. 
C..x Beryl. C. X Priam. 
C. X eboriacum. C. X Queen Alexandra. 
C. X Euryades magnificum. C. x Samuel Gratrix. 
Gx Bye. C. X Sir W. Houldsworth. 
C. X fulshawense. C:; X Thala, Gratrix’s var. 
C. X Gaston Bultel. C. X The Baron. 
It is remarkable how few of the names agree with those of Mr. Wellesley’s 
list. The only name common to both is C. X The Baron, though the 
number could be extended to five if varieties were excluded. In this case, 
however, Mr. Wellesley’s list would have to be reduced to eighteen, if not 
less. Mr. Gratrix has not analysed the percentage of the species repre- 
sented, as in the former list, but he shows that most of the hybrids have 
received the award of a First-class Certificate. The question of money 
value is not discussed, and may very well be left out of consideration, being 
something quite distinct from the decorative value of a plant, and an 
altogether variable factor. 
One correspondent asks for a more representative list, in which the 
claims of the summer-flowering hybrids are better recognised. It is also 
pointed out that some of the hybrids are of such recent origin that a good 
many people have not seen them. Perhaps the selection might be made on 
a somewhat different principle, for one wonders how it is that such highly 
decorative plants as the best forms of C. X nitens and C. x Lathamianum 
fail to find a place. We hope that other readers will favour us with their 
views. 
CYPRIPEDIUM RECORD “UNDER THE HAMMER.” 
REFERRING to Mr. F. A. Wellesley’s note (O.R., December, 1908, p. 354) 
he is in error as to £300 being the record for any Cypripedium. It is 
ancient history, and long before his time as an Orchidist, but well within 
mine (I am perforce bound to admit it), that Cypripedium Stonei platyteenium 
realised, on May 4th, 1887, £325 10s., at the Lee, of Downside, Sale. Mr. 
Wellesley holds the £300 hybrid Cypripedium record under the hammer, 
