THE ORCHID WORLD. 
85 
SOME IDEAS ON OR( 
By J. M. 
IN beginning these notes on orchid hybri- 
disation, an all-absorbing subject for 
the orchid-grower, and a subject the 
importance of which to him it is difficult to 
exaggerate, let me at once make an attempt 
to dispel the gloomy forebodings of those 
who are ever ready to proclaim the useless- 
ness of beginning now, considering how far 
aiiead some already are, and the number of 
hybrids already raised — and to flower. 
Hybridisation is now a most important 
part of orchid work. Without hybridisation 
and the steady introduction of the resulting 
novelties the interest in the fascinating pur- 
suit of orchid collecting and growing would 
have been in danger of falling into neglect 
from sheer apathy, or it would have dropped 
to the level of the culture of other popular 
flowering greenhouse plants, which are culti- 
vated purely for the decorative value of their 
flowers. Introductions of new species become 
yearly rarer, and as the ground gets further 
and further explored must still decrease, until 
it reaches vanishing point. There is a limi- 
tation to finding novelties in the shape of new 
species, but there is no such limitation in 
finding novelties from cross-breeding. 
From the days of the raising of the first 
hybrid (1856) much thought and effort have 
been put into the work, and the flood of 
orchid hybrids that ha\e since been poured 
out of the orchid-houses of this country, 
Belgium and France has been somewhat 
bewildering, even to those who are in intimate 
association with the work. Many curiosities, 
some monstrosities, and withal a generous 
quantity of valuable and beautiful productions 
have resulted from the workers in this branch 
of horticultural science. But notwithstanding 
this multitude of distinct hybrids — ])rimary, 
secondary, tertiary and bigeneric — in the 
aggregate many thousands of plants, it might 
still be within the mark to say that we are 
but yet on the threshold of the citadel, and 
have the edifice itself to explore. Allowing 
that we have already entered the citadel, we 
have not yet had time to examine the many 
hidden crannies containing treasure, and 
HID HYBRIDISATION. 
BLACK. 
hardly suspect the wealth of beauty which a 
closer view and further exploration will dis- 
close. We know that there are inner recesses 
m this fairyland building from which we have 
not been able to draw the curtains, and our 
ambition is to get in there. 
How can it ever be too late to start cross- 
breeding orchids, with all the complex possi- 
bilities and mystery of the results ! 
The reasons that orchid cross-breeding ever 
took place at all were curiosity, a desire for 
novelty, and, latterly, size and perfection of 
shape, brilliance of hues and purity ; secon- 
darily, and a long way behind, constitution ; 
and the controlling power has been, and 
always will be, gain — a word that can be 
interpreted in many other ways besides 
successful commercialism. 
Leaving aside for the moment the con- 
trolling power, a study of the reasons that 
ever existed will leave these reasons, after 
all that has been done, just as strong. Desire 
for novelty and pure curiosity may have 
become satiated in those who have been 
raising orchid hybrids for some years, but no 
hybridist has ever admitted to himself that 
he IS satisfied on every point with his best 
products ; so that size and perfection in shape, 
brilliance of hues and purity still remain his 
object, the will-o'-the-wisp that he is ever 
pursuing. 
And why should those who have not yet 
started not join in the chase ? I am told it 
is because the other chap has got too much 
of a lead. But there is no need to start off 
the scratch line. He who started off the 
scratch line has covered some rough ground, 
and has encountered and overcome many 
obstacles — perhaps he has even grown weary 
on the way. The beginner has no need to go 
over the ground already covered ; he can 
enter and start abreast. The results of the 
pioneers are ready to hand to work on, and 
there is room and to spare for all who have 
inclination, resources and time for this fasci- 
nating pursuit ; and who knows but that 
among those who make their first pod in igi i 
some may not be leading the van in the next 
