208 THE FLORIST AND 



calyx ; five thin delicate plates next succeed as the corolla ; then 20 threads 

 for the stamens ; and, finally, five other central points or arms complete the 

 structure ; all equal and alike in each series, all placed in a certain fixed 

 relation to each other around a common centre, which itself corresponds 

 with the surrounding organs. This structure is 5 + 5 -f (5 x 4) +5. In an 

 ear of corn the same kind of symmetry exists, although more difficult to 

 discover. Each grain stands in perfectly symmetrical relation to the 

 others ; one right, one left ; each a little higher than the preceding. Even 

 the small scales of chaff which enclose the grains are placed in an equally 

 symmetrical position with respect to each other. The demonstration of 

 this, however, involves minute details, which need not be entered upon at 

 present. When properly understood it assists in further proving that sym- 

 metry is a fundamental law in plants, and that the most dissimilar forms of 

 vegetation obey that law. — Professor Lindleys Symmetry of Vegetation. 



GROWING ORCHIDS FROM SEEDS. 



At the present time there are few subjects connected with plant growing 

 on which there is less recorded information, than that of growing Orchids 

 from seeds. I am not aware that there is any case on record of hybridisa- 

 tion having been affected among Orchids, though there seems no doubt that 

 such could be accomplished by careful manipulation, an inference I draw 

 from reasoning analogically on experiments, made here to get seed. Many 

 of our indigenous Orchids appear to seed freely, whilst comparatively few 

 exotic species among our cultivated collections produce seed, circumstances 

 suggestive of the idea that the latter require artificial assistance, which can 

 be readily afforded, by carefully applying the pollen masses to the viscid 

 face of the column and rostellum. But whether the seeds of hardy Orchids 

 be generally imperfect, or the necessary circumstances for vegetation, and 

 the subsequent growth of the young plants wanting, we certainly do not 

 find crops of young orchids growing spontaneously in various stages of 

 growth, as occurs with most other endogens, though, when orchid seed does 

 vegetate under favourable circumstances, a very large number of the 

 myriads of extremely minute seeds contained in the ovaries are perfect, 

 whether artificially impregnated or not. Within the last five years, seed- 

 lings of the following species have been raised in the Orchid-house, at 

 Glassnevin, namely, Epidendrum elongatum, and crassifolium, Cattleya 

 Forbesii, and Phaius albus, the seeds of which all vegetate freely. The 



