178 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



might often be found on the same corymb of Elder-flowers. Early- 

 flowering Fuchsias were frequently in threes instead of fours, 

 while Orchids and Irises might sometimes be found in twos. 



HYBRID ORCHIDS. 

 By Mr. James O'Brien, V.M.H. 



[Read June 14, 1898:] 



Published in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society's 

 Report of the Orchid Conference, 1885, we have the admirable 

 lecture on hybrid Orchids by the best authority in the country, 

 Mr. Harry J. Veitch ; and in the recently issued number, April 

 1898, will be found an exhaustive paper, compiled by Mr. C. C. 

 Hurst, entitled " Notes on Some Curiosities of Orchid Breeding." 

 In the former paper the structure of Orchid flowers, the process of 

 fertilisation, and other matters relating to the raising of Orchid3 

 from seeds are fully dealt with ; and in the more recent paper a 

 remarkable collection of curious facts and conjectures concerning 

 the strange things brought about by cross-breeding are placed 

 on record. 



In the present paper, in view of the number of Orchid 

 growers who attempt to raise hybrid Orchids from seeds, but 

 who either fail altogether or get but very poor results, I purpose 

 making a few brief remarks, dealing with the question from a 

 cultural point of view. Having been honorary secretary of the 

 Orchid Committee for a number of years, I have had the 

 opportunity of seeing the many beautiful hybrids which follow 

 each other in rapid succession, and I have been struck by the 

 pointed examples which they give, and continually emphasise, of 

 the good to be attained by diligent work. 



One great advantage secured to gardens by the hybridist is 

 the possession of a large number of showy plants, giving greater 

 variety at all seasons, and in some cases filling in the periods 

 between the flowering of the larger sections of Orchids, so that a 

 continuous supply of flowers is possible. In thus extending the 

 flowering season the garden hybrids have the advantage over 

 the natural hybrids which are the progeny of species flowering 

 in the same localities and at the same period, and consequently 



