ORCHID CONFERENCE. 



413 



by the leading part played by hand-raised hybrids in the various 

 groups. 



In face of such an imposing array of beautiful hybrids it may 

 seem presumptuous on the part of a student of Genetics to offer to 

 the Orchid breeder any suggestions as to the advantages that might 

 be derived from an application of the science of Genetics to Orchid 

 breeding, for where practical Orchid breeding has been so successful 

 the application of the science of Genetics might naturally be regarded 

 as somewhat superfluous. But those behind the scenes know better. 

 The wonderful hybrids that appear in public represent only one side 

 of the picture. 



Orchid breeders of experience know too well that in order to 

 secure a really first-class hybrid it is necessary to raise large numbers 

 of others. Many are raised, but few are chosen. Some crosses 

 naturally yield more good forms than others, but generally speaking 

 first-class hybrids are few and far between, and the moderate and 

 poor forms are far too numerous. In secondary and more complex 

 hybrids especially, the number of misfits and unwanted weeds that 

 turn up time after time is rather disconcerting, and the question often 

 arises as to whether m^any of these crosses are worth making at all 

 from the economic point of view, though from the scientific stand- 

 point they are naturally most instructive. 



Old and New Methods. 



From this it is evident that chance plays a great part in modern 

 Orchid breeding, and there is really very little certainty in the game 

 as played by the leading exponents. Now, if the modern science o'f 

 Genetios teaches anything, it is that there are certainties to be found 

 in breeding. A careful study of recent work in Genetics points 

 unmistakably to the important fact that law and order may be 

 perceived in breeding. From the economic point of view it costs 

 just as much to raise a poor form as it does a good one, the time, 

 : trouble, and expense involved are the same, and the practical 

 problem that faces the Orchid breeder is how to manage his matings so 

 1 as to reduce the number of worthless forms to a minimum, 

 I This is where the application of Genetics to Orchid breeding should 

 I come in to help the breeder. Of course, in the early stages of the 

 j application it cannot be expected that all Orchid breeding will be 

 reduced to a certainty, that would be too much to expect; nor would 

 'it be altogether desirable, for in such a case Orchid breeding would 

 be divested of much of its charm. Already a few certainties in Orchid 

 breeding are known, thanks mainly to the application of the Mendelian 

 principles, and that many other certainties await discovery there can 

 be no doubt. 



One important point, however, should be noted, and that is that 

 iunder present conditions Orchid breeders must very largely discover 

 jthese certainties for themselves by the application of the principles 

 ■of Genetics. In this respect Orchid breeding differs much from 



