180 
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
flowers or is very sceptical on the subject; later they report 
that they have found instances of the operation being effected by 
insects ; and ultimately they either believe in the subject as set 
forth by Darwin, or have little to say against it. So far as the 
good seed which takes the responsibility of reproducing the plant 
is concerned, I think there is little doubt that nature arranges 
for the fertilisation to be effected by insects, though in many 
cases the alternative of self-fertilisation is provided, but in such 
a manner as to be available only as a last resort. 
Observers in the tropics are generally led to disbelieve in the 
agency of insects by the large number of seed-capsules which 
they see in some situations, which even in their early stages 
never furnished an instance of an insect employed in fertilising 
them (or rather of an insect effecting the operation while seeking 
its own sustenance) or of any sign of one having visited the 
flowers. I am convinced that a very large proportion of the 
seed-capsules of this kind have not resulted from fertilisation at 
all, but that they are capsules formed in consequence of irritation 
of the stigmatic surface by dust, or some other substance, and in 
a similar manner to what I have often produced on home-grow¬ 
ing plants many years ago. I had what I consider remarkable 
proof in support of my contention from Mr. F. C. Lehmann 
when speaking with him on the subject last year. Mr. Lehmann 
remarked that, considering the great number of flowers produced 
by any species of Orchids over a given area, the number of seed- 
vessels generally speaking was very small, but that in very 
exposed situations, such as on isolated wind-swept hills, it was 
very common to find a quantity of plants in the bleakest spot 
covered with capsules, while in sheltered situations the same 
species would give but few fruits. I have no doubt that in these 
occasional instances the capsules are invariably produced by 
dust or grit being carried to the stigmatic disc, and that they 
contained no good seeds; but Mr. Lehmann promises to test the 
matter, and we may hope for further information on the subject. 
I think it very probable that what are known as bad varieties or 
a bad strain of any species of Orchid coming from a particular 
locality may have originated at some remote period from dearth 
of insects to effect fertilisation, and consequent resort being had 
to the alternative of self-fertilisation the progeny of which 
degenerate; or from the degeneracy of the subjects so heavily 
