ORCHID CONFERENCE. 



439 



He would next ask Mr. E. G. Thwaites to read his paper on 



''ALBINISM IN OECHIDS." 



Mr. E. G. Thwaites : It is with feehngs of considerable dif&dence 

 that I venture to bring forward the subject of " Albinism in Orchids " 

 for your consideration, not only because the subject itself 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 I am speaking before experts who 

 have had considerable experience with albino orchids ; but, bearing in 

 mind that this .meeting is a " Conference " at which opinions and 

 experiences are invited in order that sound conclusions may be formed, 

 I am merely taking my part in the Conference, 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 oi my experience with albino Orchids, the conclusions 

 I have formed from such experience, and the reasons for such con- 

 clusions. 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 ex- 

 pected 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 Cypripediums), obtained in various gardens, and theories 

 put forward to account for the mysterious happenings which have taken 

 place, not always under the writer's own observation. 



I must confess that I have found some of these theories very diffi- 

 cult to follow, and have o^ften been mystified rather than helped by 

 them. 



For instance, I read: "It is now definitely established that the 

 production of colour depends upon two factors which 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 

 in the two plants; but when crossed the two factors unite, and a 

 coloured form results." 



As I understand it, a white flower called " A " will mate with a 

 white flower called " B " and produce white progeny, but when " A " 

 IS mated with a white flower called " G " coloured progeny are pro- 

 duced, because the factor which is in " A " differs from the factor 

 which is in " C." Now, if there is a factor in " A " and " B " which 

 is not in " C " it follows that there are two whites, the component 

 parts O'f which are different, notwithstanding that all three flowers 

 are admittedly white; but I cannot 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 in " 0." 



There is nothing to distinguish these two whites by, except the 



