272 
THE ORCHID WORLD. 
result. Nevertheless, by studying these 
adverses we learn the peculiarities of the 
plants, and by so doing success comes the 
sooner. 
The Odontoglossum house contains many 
of the largest size plants, the centre staging 
having recently been lowered to prevent the 
tall spikes of the Edwardii crosses from beinp- 
damaged 
through com- 
ing in contact 
with the roof. 
This species 
has been 
crossed with 
crispum, and in 
the hybrid, 
known as O. 
T h o m p s on- 
i a n u m , the 
colour is either 
formed into 
spots or blot- 
ches, or entirely 
suffused. The 
variety illus- 
trated shows 
a dark-claret 
blotched 
flower, the 
margin being 
of a magenta- 
rose tint. In 
O. Clytie (Ed- 
wardii X Pes- 
catorei) the 
spike IS more Sophro Cattleya Thivailesii 
inclined to F.C.C.. R.H.S. 
branch, and the purple pigment is slightly 
suffused around the darker spots. 
The side staging is occupied with other 
interesting Odontoglossums, the best being 
O. eximium, in which the heavily blotched 
crispum Boltonii was used ; O. McNabianum ; 
the elegant O. Thwaitesii (Harryanum x 
ardentissimum) ; the scarce O. Blackii (Rossii 
X Pescatorei) ; and many others. A special 
feature has been made of collecting fine 
varieties of Odontoglossum Rossii rubescens, 
these are being used for carrying seed pods. 
It is worthy of note that Odontoglossum 
maculatum has been crossed with success in 
a number of instances. 
The Odontiodas are well represented, and 
include Thwaitesii, Boltonii, Wilsonii, Charles- 
worthii, and the new Latona (Bradshawiae x 
Harryano-crispum) and Eva May (vulcanica 
X percultum). O. Cecilia, O. Zephyr, and 
many others 
were fi r s t 
raised in this 
collection. 
Some interest- 
ing seedlings 
which have 
just been 
pricked off the 
seed pans are 
the result of 
crossing Odon- 
lioda Thwait- 
e s i i with 
Odontioda 
Brad shawiae. 
It should be 
noted that O. 
Thwaitesii is 
the most 
strongly char- 
acterised o f 
the vulcanica 
hybrids. 
A smaller 
house is prac- 
tically filled 
with hybrids 
(S. grandiflora x C. Mendclii). of Sophronitis 
. March 9th. 1909. grandiflora, 
the collection of these being, probably, 
the finest in the country. The varieties 
principally specialised in being : S.-C. Doris 
(S. grandiflora x C. aurea), S.-C. Thwaitesii 
(S. grandiflora x C. Mendelii), and S.-C. 
Blackii (S. grandiflora x C. Hardyana), 
this latter cross being considered the 
best primary Sophro-Cattleya yet raised. 
Very little seed is formed in the pods 
of these hybrids, and considerable difficulty 
is experienced in obtaining secondary 
hybrids. 
