M;iicli, i<ji,v 
CATTLEYA LORD ROTHSCHILD. 
(5ee Illustralion.) 
THIS elegant hybrid between C. Giis- 
kelliana and C. aurea was first raised 
and flowered by Messrs. Sander and 
Sons, October, i8g3.' C. Gaskelliana benv^ a 
summer-flowering species and C. aurea an 
autumn-flowering plant, it is not often that 
both species can be obtained in flower at the 
same time, so that the hybrid is hkely to 
remain comparatively rare. The difficulty is 
sometimes overcome by obtaining a late 
blooming plant of the former parent and an 
early flower of the aurea, or, as is now 
frequently done, the pollen of the Gaskelliana 
may be preserved until the autumn, when its 
vitality is usually sufficient for fertilisation, 
although it must be said that the best and 
most fertile seed pods are formed when the 
pollen is fresh. 
The increasing difficulty which hybridists 
experience in making new primary crosses is 
largely due to the fact that the number of 
good species is strictly limited. This scarce- 
ness of new material has induced them to 
re-make many of the older hybrids b\- the use 
of only the finest varieties of the species in 
question, and this is partly why we find that a 
rise in value has taken place m extremes of 
the type. On the one hand we see very dark, 
richly coloured forms of Gaskelliana produc- 
ing hybrids similarly coloured, as, for example 
in the Westonbirt variety of C. Lord Roths- 
child, and, on the other hand, the use of 
Gaskelliana alba has created many \ ery 
delicate and albino forms of the same hybrid. 
The illustration in this issue depicts a very 
beautiful variety of C. Lord Rothschild 
named albescens, a term now used to denote 
flowers which are not entireU' white, although 
in this example the sepals and petals are pure 
white and the lip slightl}- marked with rose- 
purple. The term alba should only correctly 
be applied to flowers entirely without the 
purple pigment. 
To Messrs. J. and A. McBean, Cooksbridge, 
is due the credit of raising and flowering this 
beautiful albescens variety, which also is 
remarkable for the large amount of bright 
golden-yellow colour to be seen on the larger 
part of the labellum. It is interesting lo note 
that almost all the seedlings which have so 
far flowered from this pod are c(]ually 
beautiful and distinct in the way of the 
golden-\'ellow labellums. 
BRASSO-CATTLEYA MENDA. 
(See Illustration.) 
A very beautiful addition to the hybrids 
of Brassovola Digbyana was exhibited at the 
Royal Horticultural Society, February 18th, 
1913, by Pantia Ralli, Esq., Ashtead Park, 
Surrey, who received a First-class Certificate 
for Brasso-Cattleya Menda, a new hybrid 
obtained by crossing Cattleya labiata with 
Brasso-Cattleya Digbyano-Mossiae. Albino 
varieties of both parents were used, resulting 
in a very choice and beautiful pure white 
flower, the only exception being a very bright 
purple blotch on the centre of the labellum, 
which gives to the bloom a singularly attrac- 
tive appearance. The pretty fringe to the 
labellum imparts a finishing touch of elegance 
to the flower, and another gem has been 
added to the Ashtead Park collection, so 
ably managed by Mr. S. Fames. 
NEW HYBRIDS. 
L ELIA Susanna. — A very interesting 
h\ brid between L. pumila and L. Dayana has 
been raised by Mr. Eustace F. Clark, of Ever- 
shot, Dorset. The parents are ver\- closely 
allied, but Da)'ana is easily distinguished by 
the prominent purple keels on the lip. These 
are well inherited in the h\ brid, although to a 
lesser degree. The shoulders and front lobe 
of the lip are rich purple, the upper part of the 
throat bright )'ellow. The two parents are 
sometimes considered as varieties of the same 
species, and if Mr. Clark's flower had been 
di.scoverecl m an importation of the plant it 
would have been taken by some students as a 
proof that the two cannot be definitely 
separated. L. pumila, L. Da\ana, and L. 
prrPstans are now generally given specific 
rank. 
IHI-; oRfUft) wol'it.f). 
