Marcil, 1914. 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



from every fresh batch of seedhngs. From 

 an academical aspoct this extreme lateral 

 development of one particular segment, viz., 

 the dorsal sepal, is highly esteemed, but from 

 a point of beauty it is very doubtful if much 

 can be said in its favour. It is not suggested 

 in any way that broad dorsals are to be 

 despised, but the question that really appears 

 to concern us at the present moment is, have 

 we overdone the development of this 

 particular organ, while at the same time we 

 have much neglected the other portions of 

 the flower, viz., the lateral petals and the 

 labellum? One might even go so far as to 

 suggest the improvement of the ventral sepal, 

 although this is usually hidden, or very nearl)- 

 so, by the more prominent and anterior 

 labellum. 



The ne.xt step after the evolvement of the 

 dorsal sepal must undoubtedly be the develop- 

 ment of the lateral petals. In these it seems 

 hardly possible to obtain the same elegant 

 colour arrangement which is so conspicuous 

 a feature in the dorsal. But considering the 

 fact that scarcely anything in this direction 

 has been attempted, one cannot be too certain 

 in expressing an opinion regarding the 

 impossibility of its achievement. 



A far more likely event, and one, in fact, 

 that appears within the limits of any hybridist 

 to produce, is the broadening and general 

 encouragement of the lateral petals. These 

 should, and can, undoubtedly be brought to 

 a far greater state of perfection than is now 

 in evidence. If the petals can be widened in 

 proportion to the dorsal sepal a very welcome 

 and decided advance in the evolution of the 

 Cypripedium will be effected, and a new 

 interest will be imparted to one of the oldest, 

 yet still one of the most popular Orchids. 



No really definite manner of securing this 

 advance can be prescribed, for one must 

 always bear in mind the fact that we are 

 striving to produce something which Nature 

 herself, with all her time and means, has not 

 yet thought fit to give us. .Still, by selecting 

 for hybridisation those flowers which have a 

 tendency to vary in our desired manner we 

 may very possibly raise seedlings that show 

 an improvement in this respect, and by 



continually selecting these forms the develop- 

 ment of the petals will be accentuated in each 

 succeeding generation. 



In Cypripedium Desdemona, of which an 

 illustration is included in this issue, the lateral 

 petals are unusually well-developed, probably 

 to an extent hitherto thought impossible. 

 The flower has an elegant and graceful 

 appearance; there is no suggestion of it being 

 overburdened by a massive and ill-propor- 

 tioned dorsal sepal ; while the labellum and 

 the ventral sepal are in harmony with the 

 substantial nature of the other segments. It 

 may be classed with the finest results yet 

 obtained, and is probably the best example of 

 the section in which development of the 

 lateral petals is the distinguishing feature. 

 There is a great and promising future for 

 this new and interesting class. 



The parents are Alcibiades and Mrs. Cary 

 Batten, the former being composed of insigne, 

 .Spicerianum and Boxallii; the latter a massive 

 flower of unknown origin, but showing very 

 strongly the characteristics of villosum, yet 

 much broader in all its segments. It is 

 figured in Vol. I., p. 156. 



Cypripedium Desdemona was raised by 

 Messrs. Charlesworth and Co., and when 

 exhibited by them at the Royal Horticul- 

 tural .Society, January 27th, 1914, received the 

 insufficient honour of an Award of Merit. 

 The plant subsecjuently passed into Mr. Wm. 

 Thompson's collection, at Stone, and when 

 shown by him at the Manchester Orchid 

 .Society, January 29th, 1914, a First-class 

 Certificate was duly awarded. 



An Important .Sale. — Messrs. Protheroe 

 and Morris have received instructions from 

 Mr. Francis Wellesley, of Westfield, Woking, 

 to sell the whole of his Orchid collection 

 The sale will take place at Chcapside, 

 London, E.C., on April 2nd and 3rd, and no 

 reserve whatever will be placed upon the 

 plants. The majority are specimen size, and 

 in some instances the complete stock is in the 

 collection. Full particulars will be found in 

 our advertisement pages. 



