226 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [AucusT, 1903. 
hybrid approaching the latter in character but having a better constitution. 
This makes a third cross with P. simulans, which, according to the 
Mendelian hypothesis, should afford an opportunity for getting rid of most 
of the P. Wallichii characters, and the result in any case will be 
interesting. Something of the same kind might be attempted with Paphio- 
pedilum Fairrieanum if only pollen were obtainable. When shall we see a 
flower of this remarkable plant again at a Royal Horticultural Society 
‘meeting ? . 
The various reports of meetings and exhibitions shows that hybridisation 
is making steady progress, although nothing very sensational has appeared 
for some time, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to break new ground. 
Vanda X Maron, however, figured at page 209, is an interesting novelty, 
and Cynorchis X kewensis brings a new genus into the field. The Brassa- 
vola Digbyana hybrids are also increasing in number, andit is not unlikely 
that other fine novelties will be heard of before long. 
The Odontoglossum crispum question discussed at page 197 is decidedly 
interesting, and it is curious to find that after so many years of culture of 
this most popular of all Orchids it should be necessary to ask ‘‘ When is a 
crispum not a crispum?” But it is equally certain that a satisfactory 
answer has not yet been given, and the discussion makes it clear why it is 
so. It is evident that hybridists will have to take matter in hand, for 
importers are only making the question more difficult to answer. 
Another difficult Odontoglossum question has cropped up, for I see that 
an attempt is being made (p. 218) to decide who first raised a hybrid 
between O. Harryanum and O. Hallii, and what is its correct name. If 
such difficulties are encountered with artificial hybrids, whose history ought 
to be pretty well known, it is no wonder that uncertainty should prevail as 
to the parentage of natural hybrids, whose origin is entirely a matter of 
inference, in which a very nice sense of discrimination is often involved. 
It is satisfactory, however, to find that a spirit of enquiry is abroad, 
and that attempts are being made to clear up some of these difficult 
questions. 
After a long interval the remarkable genus Chlorea is again in cultiva- 
tion, three species having flowered at Kew, as recorded at page 133- I hope 
it will be possible to keep them, for Chilian Orchids are very rare in 
cultivation, and at a place like Kew one likes to find a collection as repre- 
sentative as possible ; besides which these plants are among the handsomest 
of terrestrial species. 
