May 14, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
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COMING EVENTS 
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Ascension Day. 
Sunday after Ascension. 
Paris International Horticultural Exhibition (twelve days). 
THE ORCHID CONFEEENCE. 
NY other place than the most prominent would be 
unfitting for the record of an event so important 
as this. The aggregation of species and varieties 
of this great and increasingly popular family of 
plants under the auspices of the Eoyal Horti¬ 
cultural Society was a happy idea, and especially 
as a conference of orchidists was at the same 
time suggested. Much is known about Orchids, 
but by no means all that is desirable. They 
have been written about from almost every conceivable point 
of view; yet so far from the subject being exhausted, we are 
only, as it were, on the threshold in one important aspect— 
namely, hybridisation and the establishment of seedlings. 
Until comparatively recently we were exclusively indebted 
to the perseverance of collectors in furnishing plants, but the 
time is not far distant when a great and important “ home 
supply ” will be forthcoming. We have long been cognisant 
of the work in this direction at the head quarters at Chelsea ; 
and when Mr. Harry Yeitch acceded to the request to con¬ 
tribute a paper on the fertilisation or increase of the plants 
from seed we conceived the time opportune for elucidating 
the subject by a series of engravings. 
Very few persons have any knowledge of Orchids in a 
seedling stage, and still fewer have the requisite patience or 
opportunity to raise them. The seeds are so minute that 
unless great care is exercised they are liable to be washed 
away whenever water is applied. Moreover, the development 
of the young plants is so slow that two or three years elapse 
before the full characters are assumed, and this period is 
sometimes trebled before flowers are produced. Raising 
hybrid Orchids is consequently the work of a life, with many 
years of waiting, sometimes for failures ; but the successes 
have been great in the hands of skilled hybridists, and the 
expectation of even more remarkable results is still encou¬ 
raging such steady workers as Mr. Seden. The engravings 
show at a glance the gradual process by which the seedling 
Orchid acquires its mature characters, the several stages of 
advance being most interesting. The drawings have been 
very carefully prepared by an experienced artist, andpourtray 
the structural peculiarities with the greatest accuracy—a 
matter of some difficulty, especially as regards the earlier 
conditions. The seeds are magnified. 
The other papers read, together with the discussion which 
followed, brought out many interesting facts, but that on 
hybridisation certainly excited the greatest attention, and 
had that been the only result of the Orchid Conference it 
would have repaid the promoters for their exertions. As to 
the Exhibition itself, the report which follows will convey a 
better idea than can be done in these introductory obser¬ 
vations. It was a most remarkable display, and considering 
that no prizes were offered the number of plants shown was 
surprising, and at no previous non-competitive exhibition 
has such a magnificent collection of Orchids been obtained. 
At the Manchester "Whitsuntide shows we have seen many 
extremely handsome displays of Orchids. The Regent’s Park 
No. 255.—Vol. X., Third Seres. 
summer exhibitions have comprised some magnificent groups, 
but on these and similar occasions liberal prizes have been 
offered to induce exhibitors to bring their treasures. It is 
therefore especially satisfactory to find that, as at the previous 
conferences, many were willing to exhibit for honour alone, 
and without any prospect of pecuniary return. Orchids, it 
is true, are very different from the majority of plants. They 
are easily injured in conveyance to or from the show, and in 
unfavourable weather the owner of plants worth some hun¬ 
dreds of pounds would naturally hesitate before exposing them 
to unknown dangers. So it is that until the morning of the 
Orchid Conference there was much uncertainty as to the 
extent of the display, and it appeared at one time as if the 
number of exhibitors would fall far short of what had been 
anticipated. Fortunately, however, entries steadily increased, 
and abundance was furnished to render the conservatory bril¬ 
liant with the varied colours of innumerable Orchid flowers. 
Special preparation was made in the spacious building just 
mentioned, much greater space being obtained and a better 
general effect ensured. The shrubs and trees upon the south 
side were moved back from the centre promenade, occupying 
the narrow side walk, which was seldom used, and thus giving 
an increased width in the centre. Side stages about 2 feet 
clear of the ground were placed upon each side, and a double 
one of similar height down the centre. These, while elevating 
the plants sufficiently to enable them to be seen advantage¬ 
ously, avoided what is too frequently a deplorable mistake 
at horticultural shows—namely, staging the plants too high. 
Viewed from one end the general effect was most satisfactory, 
and the method of arrangement adopted deserved all the 
commendation it received from the visitors who crowded the 
conservatory upon the two days. 
It was regretable that the northern growers were not 
more numerously represented at such a gathering, and pro¬ 
bably had some proposition been made with regard to defray¬ 
ing the expenses of conveying plants to Kensington many 
would have been induced to attend. Perhaps also the near 
approach of the Manchester Exhibition prevented some of 
the leading growers of Lancashire sending their specimens. 
Whatever was the cause, however, with the exception of the 
collections of flowers from Scotland, there were no contribu¬ 
tions from t _e north. 
In the programme of the Conference issued some time 
since it was expressly stipulated that as few duplicates as 
possible should be shown. At the time this was a very wise 
provision, as it was desired to obtain representatives of a 
large number of species and varieties, and it was feared that 
the space then at command would be filled by collections in 
which the common species would predominate. After the 
alteration in the arrangement of the permanent occupants of 
the conservatory it became evident, however, that the ex¬ 
tended space would permit a much greater number of plants 
to be shown, and it was regretted that the stipulation had 
not been omitted. No doubt this combined with the other 
causes mentioned served to reduce the number and extent of 
the entries, yet it was a grand Exhibition, well indicating the 
floral beauty of the family and the excellence of the culture 
adopted in all the leading gardens. 
It may be asked, What was the object of the Conference, 
and is that object accomplished ? both of which questions 
can be readily answered. In the first place the promoters 
wished to obtain an exhibition of the principal genera, show¬ 
ing the chief characteristics of cultivated Orchids, and for 
this reason twelve—namely, Cattleya, Lrelia, Odontoglossum, 
Masdevallia, Cypripedinm, Oneidium, Epidendrum, Dendro- 
bium, Vanda, Saccolabium, Aerides, and Stanhopea were 
selected as types. Secondly, it was hoped that by reading 
papers upon the most important subjects connected with 
Orchids, and by subsequent discussion, a great amount of 
useful and interesting information would be obtained, that if 
published in the form of a report might be of considerable 
service to orchidists ; hybridisation, cultivation, and no- 
No. 1911.—Vol. LXXII., Old Series. 
