26 



REPORT ON THE 



maturing the capsules of cattleyas of the labiata group ranges 

 from eleven to thirteen months, for Lalia purpurata it is about 

 nine months, for Phalcenopsis Schilleriana six months, Cypripedium 

 Spicerianum eleven to twelve months, C. insigne ten months, 

 masdevallia four months, calanthe three to four months, Zygope- 

 talum Mackayi when crossed with maxillaria about six months 

 Odontoglossum maculatum, Dendrobium aureum, Anguloa Cloivesii, 

 Chysix bractescens, and Maxillaria Harrisoniana each about twelve 

 months. But, of course, these periods are only approximate ; 

 the time required for the ripening of the capsules is considerably 

 influenced by the state of the weather and external circum- 

 stances, especially by the amount of direct sunlight during the 

 year. I note that our experience does not differ essentially from 

 that of M. Bleu, of Paris, who has published in the journal of 

 the Societe Nationals d' Horticulture the periods of ripening of 

 the capsules of several Orchids crossed by himself, although it 

 might be expected that in the warmer and drier climate of Paris 

 the periods would be somewhat shorter. 



Adverse as are some of the influences under which we work 

 to obtain capsules, there is but little difficulty in getting them, 

 and in abundance too ; sometimes even from crosses that, to the 

 systematic botanist, would seem almost beyond belief ; but then 

 comes the crux. Good seed is the all important factor in pro- 

 ducing healthy seedlings, and this, unfortunately, from causes 

 already partially adverted to, is obtainable but in a very minute 

 proportion of the whole. Seed we get in profusion, but so 

 little of it germinates that the patience of the most persevering 

 is put to a severe test. The seeds of hundreds of capsules have 

 been sown without yielding a single result. In very many cases 

 only a solitary plant had been raised from a capsule that must 

 have contained thousands of seeds ; in very few instances indeed 

 has the number of seedlings from one cross reached a hundred. 

 It is tine that we have raised many seedlings in the aggregate, 

 but many of them have appeared when least expected, and when 

 we consider the myriads of seeds that have been sown, and the 

 comparatively few plants raised, we cannot be said to have 

 achieved very great success. It may here be noted that with the 

 exception of cypripedium, which bears the stress of fruit-bearing 

 better than any other genus, many plants bearing capsules 

 become greatly debilitated. During the season the capsule is 

 being matured, growth frequently ceases altogether, and when 



