195 
1309.00 thoroughly worked out the orchids of India, amounting to 
about 1,300 species (in 113 genera) for the fifth volume of his Flora 
y ени India. Not to speak of other countries, the collection of 
South Africa orchids is pronounced by Mr. Bolus, F.L.S., their ре) 
recent monographer, to be the most рее in existence. The 
collection of living orchids now amounts to 1,400 species, the nomen- 
clature of which is all carefully o lt the most recent ename- 
ration of the number of existing species is that of Sir eni Hooker, 
who puts them at 5,000. 
On the whole Kew probably stands in a better position to serve as 
a standard of orchid nomenclature than any other botanical esta- 
blishment. ‘The only real difficulty in its way is how to deal with 
Reichenbach’s indetermi nable descriptions and : nomen 1 ture. Various 
up this ga by t e comm unieation of specimens fom Tiving plants 
which Reichenbach had named. Much more might be done in this 
direction, and in time it can bat j^ m l that the vast proportion 
of Reichenbach’s types might be re 
es d however, always the risk that when an unnamed orchid 
annot be run down in the Kew Herbarium it may not really be un- 
describéd but may be lurking somewhere with a name in Reichenbach's 
collections. This, however, is a problem which, for the next quarter 
done in official time, the descriptions will be published from time to 
time in the Kew Bulletin. It must be the aim of every me Bu 
Nis рон а Sian g Committee endeayour, amongs 
objects, to maintain some : nex rd of Maite in orchi nomen- 
clature, The following partes кале ce is published as defining the 
position taken by Kew in the matter ;— 
Коулт, Horricurrurar Soctery to Rovat deer ан Kew, | 
oyal Horticultural Soci ионы 
26th Au 
Sin, Tam ave 
In pursuance of a ion passed at ial meeting the 
‘Council of this Society have жанны че а Сота а to draw up “the 
“rules whieh they consider should be followed in the of 
“ orchids” for garden purposes. I was nione bos act as hon. see 
that capacity, to request you to 5 
di nom ou os wa of ne (a s= qam ^A the vei ав The 
keeper of the Botanical Department of the British Museum will also - 
be asked to name a member, It is probable that no meeting of bd 
. U 68064. 1000.—8/91. Wt.397. K.&S. 24 2 
