January 24, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
05 
Odontoglossum lucasianum 
Walkeri. 
For many year? Odontoglossums were supposed to be in¬ 
capable of hybridising with one another; and this idea was 
further substantiated by the negative results obtained by those 
who attempted their hybridisation. A few hybrids were 
obtained amongst the species of Miltonia, and, seeing that 
they are so closely allied to the true Odontoglossums, raisers 
were much puzzled at the success in the one case and failure 
in the other. 
The lack of success in raising artificial hybrid Odontoglos¬ 
sums was probably due to failure in germinating and piloting 
the seedlings through the early stages of growth. In a state 
of Nature, so many plants, not merely of lowly organisation, 
but also flowering plants high up in the natural scheme of 
classification, have entered into partnership with lowly micro¬ 
organisms, in the absence of which they are unable to thrive, or 
even exist. Under the system then in vogue for the raising 
of seedling Orchids, the microbes with which seedling Odonto- 
the parents, but having shorter segments than those of 0. 
Hallii, while the ground colour is more yellow, and the blotch¬ 
ing not so heavy. 
The variety Walkeri, under notice, is a distinct improvement 
upon the original, and in the matter of colour leans strongly 
towards 0. Hallii, as well as in the structure of the column 
and its wings. The sepals and petals are of a deep chocolate 
colour, except at the recurved yellow tips. The petals are 
often more or less spotted with yellow on the middle. The 
obovate, fringed lip is yellow, and freely blotched all over with 
chestnut red. The whole flower thus leans towards 0. Hallii 
very distinctly, as the concave and spoon-shaped lip of 0. 
Kejeljani (polyxanthum) is absent. 
An award of merit was accorded this handsome variety by 
the Royal Horticultural Society on the 13th inst., when shown 
by Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Bush Hill Park, Enfield. The 
plant exhibited by them is represented by our illustration 
prepared from a photograph. 
At least two other hybrids in which 0. Hallii is one of the 
parents are recorded. One of these is 0. Hallio-crispum craw- 
shayanum, the parentage of which is given as 0. Hallii x 
crispum roseum. The other is 0. Hallio-crispum roseum, said 
Odoxtoglossum lucasianum Walkeri. 
glossums could associate were probably absent. Much greater 
success was achieved in the raising of seedlings of hybrid 
Orchids when the plan of sowing the seed on. the sphagnum, in 
which old plants were growing, was adopted. 
Within recent years numerous hybrid Orchids have been, 
raised artificially ; and the many forms introduced, and which 
were formerly regarded as distinct species or varieties, have 
now come to be regarded as natural hybrids. Indeed, the sus¬ 
picion had been growing for some time that the strangely inter¬ 
mixed or intermediate forms were natural hybrids, and their 
supposed origin has been proved in some cases. It is now the 
general custom to describe these introductions as supposed or 
probable natural hybrids. As a rule, it is not difficult to 
identify the parents of such forms by diagnosing their structure 
and colour. 
While artificial hybrid Odontoglossums are still relatively 
few, the number of supposed artificial hybrids is considerable. 
In the present instance we do not propose to discuss the ques¬ 
tion of numbers and their names, beyond stating that the plant 
under notice is a variety of a previously named and described 
supposed natural hybrid. More than one form have in reality 
made their appearance, but the original one was described as 
a hybrid between 0. Hallii and 0. Kegeljani, better known as 
0. polyxanthum. Some authorities give the name of the hybrid 
as 0. Hallii-xanthum, and describe it as intermediate between 
to be derived from 0. Hallii x crispum lilacinum. These names 
and their significance may be somewhat, puzzling to the 
admirers and cultivators of Carnations, Pelargoniums, etc., but 
to the orchidophile and connoisseur the names are full of 
meaning, and serve as a record of their history and what to 
expect in the progeny when it comes before them. 
Evergreen Hedges. 
Of all the trees employed in the formation of these hedges Taxus 
baccata, the common Yew, is one of the most frequent. Many 
cultivators are suspicious of this tree, whose leaves and seeds are 
poisonous. “ The Revue de l’Horticulture Beige ” says that the 
Red Cedar (Sequoia sempervirens) is amenable to the same use. 
That conifer has the valuable condition of lending itself very well 
to pruning, effected before vegetation ceases. 
A Winter Bouquet. 
In a stoneware vase place Mistletoe and Holly, Honesty 
(Lunaria biennis), Fuller’s Teasle and Heaths ; add some shoots 
of Mabonia, some Fern leaves, and even some branches of trees 
of shrubs furnished with dead leaves, yellow or brown. Dust the 
sjiecimens with a little diamond powder, and in order to make 
that hold on, lightly sprinkle the flowers and foliage with a brush 
dipped in liquid gum. 
