SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, FEBRUARY 10. 



XXV 



who found that bnlbs of Roman Hyacinths, Freesias, and Daffodils, after 

 being potted and placed in a greenhouse, were apparently growing well, 

 but of which the roots were almost entirely absent. Rev. W. Wilks 

 observed that this was due to the bulbs not having been allowed to make 

 roots in the dark or, better, buried in Cocoanut fibre or ashes for a month 

 or six weeks before being exposed to the light. In the present case the 

 shoots were living at the expense of the bulb only, and not having made 

 sufficient roots for support were being starved. 



Calanthe rapid flowering. — Mr. Odell called attention to the very 

 short time in which a plant exhibited had taken to blossom, for it was 

 sown only eleven months ago. 



Calanthes, Hybrid. — Dr. Masters, F.R.S., showed purple and white 

 flowers received from Mr. Chapman, who wrote : — " The hybrid Calanthes 

 ' Sibyl ' (pure white) and ' Oakwood Ruby ' (the deepest coloured variety 

 in cultivation) were both obtained from the same pcd of seed, the 

 original cross being C. VeitcJiii and C. rubro-oculata. From selections 

 of the best varieties derived from this batch of seedlings and intercrossing 

 amongst themselves, and continuing the inbreeding for four or five 

 generations these remarkable results, ' Sibyl ' and ' Ruby,' had been 

 obtained. This is interesting at the present moment, seeing that 

 ' Mendel's Laws of Inheritance ' have been placed so prominently before 

 the Fellows of the Society. It certainly goes far enough to prove that, 

 instead of reversion to the original crossing by the process of inbreeding, 

 the result has produced and placed before us the widest possible variations 

 from the original cross and from each other, showing that ' Mendel's 

 Laws ' cannot be applied in the way some of our prominent specialists 

 have indicated. It may be interesting also to state what effect in- 

 breeding has had upon the constitution of these plants. It is impossible 

 to describe the diminished size of the bulbs while the general constitution 

 of both varieties is exceedingly delicate. ' Oakwood Ruby ' I consider the 

 most difficult subject to cultivate among the whole genus of Calanthe ; 

 I regard it as one of the most difficult Orchids I have ever had to deal 

 with. I hope before the season is over to place before the Committee 

 other results of inbreeding of Orchids, which, I think, will go far to 

 prove the inapplicability of ' Mendel's Laws ' to Orchids." 



Chinese Primrose Ivy-leaved. — Dr. Masters showed drawings of this 

 variety taken in 1887, the leaves being lobed like those of an Ivy and 

 the flowers being remarkable for having only four petals and abortive 

 organs. It appears to be precisely the same now, not having advanced 

 at all. 



Cypripedium synanthic. — Dr. Masters also showed drawings of the 

 flower of Cypripedium villosum having six stamens and two stigmas, the 

 sepals being multiplied. The appearances were due to the fusion of two 

 or three flowers into one. 



