5-' 
THE ORCHID WORLD. 
[Deccnibei-, uji2 
ALBINISM IN ORCHIDS.* 
By RiCHD. G. 
IT IS with feelings of considerable diffidence 
that I venture to bring forward for your 
consideration the subject of Albinism m 
Orchids, not only because the subject is a 
difficult one and contains points which are still 
very largely matters of opinion, but more 
particularly because I am unable to treat it 
from a scientific point of view. 
I am further conscious that 1 am speaking 
before experts who have had considerable 
experience with albino Orchids, but bearing 
in mmd that this meeting is a conference at 
w hich opinions and experiences are invited in 
order that sound conclusions may be formed 
I am merely taking m)' part in the same, 
hoping to be able to throw a little light upon 
the subject. 
After considering the definition of albinism 
I propose to put before you the details of my 
experience with albino Orchids ; the conclu- 
sions I have formed from such experience ; 
and the reasons for such conclusions. These 
are offered in no dogmatic sense, but merely 
as opinions for your consideration. 
Being desirous of raising white Orchids 
from seed, and having frequently obtained 
coloured flowers from the seedlings which I 
expected to flower white, I have turned to 
various writings upon the subject hoping to 
benefit by the knowledge and experience of 
others. 
I find these writings consist mainly of 
records of results, principally amongst Cypri- 
pediums, obtained in various gardens, and 
theories ].Hit forward to account for the 
mysterious happenings which have taken 
l)lace, not always under tlie writer's own 
observation. 
I must confess that 1 have found some of 
these theories very difficult to follow, and 
have often been mystified rather than helped 
by them. For instance, I read: "It is now 
definitely established that the production of 
"'^Report ofPdperread at the Orchid Conference, 
N'ovember, 1912. 
THWAITES. 
colour depends upon two factors whicli must 
both occur in one plant before the flowers can 
become coloured. In the two white forms 
these factors were segregated, hence the 
absence of colour 111 the two plants, but when 
crossed, the two factors unite, and a coloured 
form results." 
As I understand it, a white flower called A 
vv'ill mate with a white flower called B and 
produce white progeny, but when A is mated 
with a white flower caFed C coloured progeny 
are produced because the factor which is 111 A 
differs from the factor which is in C. Now if 
there is a factor m A and B which is not in C 
it follows that there are two whites, the 
component parts of which are different, 
notwithstanding that all three flowers are 
admittedly white, but I cmnot find an 
explanation of how the component parts differ 
one from the other, or how the factor which is 
in A and B compares with the factor which is 
m C. There is nothing to distinguish these 
two whites by, except their mysterious results, 
and then only after years of waiting, when 
the results are self-evident. 
Although this theory gives us only two 
whites, which to the eye are identical, there 
are also flowers admittedly white which to the 
eye are different. In the book " Repertoire 
de Couleurs " there is shown, amongst others, 
pure white, snow-white, milk-white, and cream- 
white, which when viewed side by side are 
distinct from each other, but when viewed 
separately each of them would pass as white, 
as their component parts must differ, or 
we could not detect any difference, so must 
the factor which they each possess, and so we 
are faced with a complication which might 
unite not two but several factors. 
Further, if the white flower A combines 
v.ith the white flower B to produce another 
white flower and will also produce white with 
a white flower called D, then, if A and D are 
mated the progeny should still be white. 
Now if A, B, C, and D represent individual 
plants onl\- the scope is very limited. If, 
