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POPULAR L/ELIO-CATTLEYAS. 



THE exact number of recorded hybrids 

 between Cattleyas and Laslias is 

 difficult to determine with any degree 

 of accuracy, and there are many others which 

 the raisers have never considered worthy to 

 exhibit or even record. Taking all these 

 into account the total number of Laslio- 

 Cattleyas cannot be less than one thousand, 

 a very formidable regiment were they all in 

 existence at the present time. Happily, many 

 of the bad ones have long since disappeared, 

 while even those of average merit have given 

 place to finer productions. 



True it is that many of us have our own 

 particular fancy ; wheit pleases one amateur 

 may make no impression on another. That 

 this will always be the case no one will deny, 

 for the several hybridists of importance may 

 each work out their own line of thought and 

 strive to bend public opinion in that direction, 

 a natural course of events when considered 

 from a commercial aspect. 



While nov'elties are appearing with 

 increasing rapidity, it does not follow by any 

 means that improvements are being effected 

 at the same rate. Now and again a distinct 

 section is produced, and for the time being no 

 small amount of interest is bestowed upon it. 

 But apart from these attractions, which assist 

 in maintaining our enthusiasm at its highest 

 level, there is quite a respectable number of 

 early results which seem likely to be constant 

 friends ; they are, indeed, veterans with a 

 seemingly never-ending life. 



Everyone will agree that no collection of 

 Laelio-Cattleyas is considered of importance 

 unless it contains one or more varieties of 

 Aphrodite (Mendelii x purpurata). More than 

 twenty years have elapsed since this elegant 

 hybrid was first exhibited, and to-day it is 

 still with us, and admired almost as much as 

 ever. Occasionally it is seen under the name 

 Eudora, applied some twehe months later 

 than Aphrodite. 



L.-C. Bella (labiata x purpurata) dates from 

 1884, since when it has held its own and been 

 of considerable value where free-flowering 

 plants of strong constitution are desired. 



Bella alba, with its white sepals and petals, is 

 now to be seen in several collections. 



But few Orchids have achieved greater 

 popularity than L.-C. callistoglossa (Warsce- 

 wiczii X purpurata). Go where one may it is 

 always to be found with its tall and stately 

 bulbs adding much in its favour. Both 

 parents are characterised by a large richly- 

 coloured labelluni, which is invariably 

 perpetuated in the hybrid. The year 1882 

 marks its appearance. 



Another old favourite is L.-C. Canhamiana 

 (Mossiae x purpurata), named in honour of one 

 of Messrs. Veitch and Sons' Orchid foremen, 

 and first flowered by them in 1885. After 

 tliirty years trial this grand old hybrid is by 

 no means despised, while in many a collection 

 it fills a valued space. 



L.-C. Dominiana (aurea x purpurata) has 

 become quite a rarity, and may remain so, 

 for the reason that it is not easy to obtain 

 both parents in flower at the same time, one 

 usually flowering in the spring, the other in 

 the autumn. It dates from 1878, and is 

 unquestionably one of the richest coloured 

 Laelio-Cattleyas. 



For the hybrid between Schroderae and 

 purpurata the name Fascinator has been 

 well chosen, for the flowers are certainly 

 fascinating to a marked degree. When the 

 cross was first made there were several 

 importations of the parental species from 

 which to select extremely fine varieties, but 

 as these opportunities have not since 

 appeared, it is almost impossible to reproduce 

 anything approaching in merit the original 

 type of hybrid, which first flowered in 1898. 

 Fortunately, a few of these special varieties 

 of Fascinator are still in existence. 



L.-C. Gottoiana (Warscewiczii x tenebrosa) 

 has been known as a natural hybrid since 

 i8gi, but many garden raised forms have 

 lately been flowered in various collections. It 

 is still a popular hybrid. 



In the old Temple Shows, and more 

 recently at Chelsea, there have been some 

 fine effects produced by massing selected 

 varieties of L.-C. H)'eana (purpurata x 

 Lawrenceana), and for this reason alone it 

 will be cultivated in quantity. 



\-OL. VI. 



9 



