480 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



dealing with these plants. He hoped they won Id have an opportunity 

 for the future discussion of Major Hurst's paper, which contained so 

 much and such important matter that it could not all be assimilated 

 without prolonged study after it was in print. 



Major Hurst said that in order to ascertain the gametic constitution 

 of any Orchid, once breeding from it would be sufficient. The results 

 obtained would show whether the plant was pure or impure for any 

 particular character, and whether that character was altogether absent. 



Mr, W. H. Hatcher inquired whether the results recorded by 

 Major Hurst in regard to albino Orchids were based upon theory, or 

 w^iether they were obtained after practical experiments. If the latter, 

 would Major Hurst kindly say whether records had been kept and 

 were available for reference? 



Major Hurst said the results with albino Orchids to which he had 

 referred had been published in the records of the Eoyal Horticultural 

 Society's exhibitions or in the Gardeners' Chronicle, &c. He had also 

 had an opportunity of examining several collections where these results 

 had been obtained^ 



Mr. J. O'Brien thought that Major Hurst had shown how special 

 Orchids might acquire a greatly enhanced value for breeding purposes, 

 and commended the idea to the careful consideration of all Orchid 

 breeders. 



The Chairman, in bringing the session to a conclusion, said that 

 *all present would desire to thank both Professor Keeble and Major 

 Hurst for the admirable and lucid expositions they had given of their 

 subjects. He feared that life was not long enough to do all the things 

 , that Major Hurst had suggested, but much might be accomplished if 

 people would keep complete and accurate records of all the plants that 

 were raised. We should then be in a position to judge more accurately 

 of the number of plants bred compared with the number that obtained 

 first-class certificates, and should have a better idea of the value of 

 individual plants for breeding purposes. 



Afternoon Session. 



i\fter the luncheon interval the Chairman called upon Mr. H. G. 

 Alexander, Orchid grower to Sir George Holford, CJ.E., K.O.V.O., 

 for his paper on 



"SOME EPIPHYTIC ORCHIDS." 



Mr. H. G. Alexander : Having been honoured by a request from 

 the Council to read to-day a paper on the cultivation of Orchids, I 

 propose giving my observations on the treatment most essential to 

 the successful cultivation of the epiphytic section, for the greater 

 number of the really showy, useful, and popular kinds are members 

 of this extensive division of the family. 



Speaking of Orchids generally, there is at the present day not 

 only 'a very remarkable development of hybrids of artificial origin — a 

 progression entirely broaight about by the energetic work of our 



