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RYERSON 1951 EXPANSIBLE ORCHID FOLDER Page l. 
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LET*‘S TALK ABOUT HYBRID ORCHID SEED 
“How long does Orchid seed remain viable?" I'm asked. 
Like most questions about Orehids, there's no standard answer. Some seed has 
remained viable two years or more, under refrigeration. Other crosses - partic- 
ularly Phalaenopsis hybrids = started losing viability in a few days. 
Generally the complicated Cattleya crosses lose viability more rapidly than pri- 
Mary crosseso But even that rule has almost as many exceptions as examples, 
affected by the vigor of the parents in question. Often a big, husky, vigorous 
hybrid proves a better parent than a puny species. 
About one point, there can't be any argument. No seed INCREASES in viability 
after it is harvested. So, the svoner it is flasked, the better. 
To assure your getting FRESH seed, consider the enclosed ADVANCE offering of 
fine hybrid crosses not yet harvested. 
After each cross listed, is the date of pollination. It takes only a bit of 
quick mental arithmetic to estimate how long seach parent has borne its pod. 
Peds like these, having remained plump, green and healthy looking on their husky 
parent plants for six months or longer, give promise of healthy Orchid Babies. 
In this respect, the Orchid mother's pregnancy is almosi human. 
But there the similarity ends, for no human mother can remain pregnant a year 
to fifteen months and bear thousands of children at the end of the period. And, 
no matter how long the pregnancy, Orchid Babies still must be grown in incuba- 
tors (flasks) for an additional eight months to a year» 
Harvesting an Orchid Seed Pod is a BIG EVEN in the Ryerson establishment. Every 
day for about a year, we've watched ite Suddenly a crack along one vein tells 
us it's time to wield the scalpel. Doors and windows are closed to stop danger~ 
ous drafts from reaching the "operating table." The pod is swabbed with steril-~ 
izing solution, the incision lengthened, seed emptied out on sterile tissue, 
looking much like a tiny heap of fine sugar.. 
If it is cream colored, like raw sugar, we're pretty sure the viability will be 
high. If it is pure white and fluffly, like powdered sugar, we experience 
qualme about whether or not it has any life in it. A sample of seed on the mi- 
croscope slide gives a more accurate answer. Even if the percentage of viabili-~- 
ty is low, wetre not seriously worried if the quality is goode Under the "mike" 
a highly viable seed has a plump, greenish~yellow embryo. Among a given hundred 
seeds, we count the plump yellow ones and guage the percentages. Transparent 
strings are sterile seeds or chaff, which can't be separated from viable seed, 
and must be planted with it. It won't germinate, but it does no harm to the 
good seed, which will. 
Next, the test flasking is made. In atout two weeks, we know exactly how much 
seed is required for a twoeflask or ten-flask packet. 
At this point, your advance orders of Orchid seed are packaged and flown to you 
via Air Mail. If the seed should prove to have no viability at all, you are 
queried as to whether you want another cross or a refund. No substitutions will 
be made without your permission. 
Place your order now to be certain of getting fresh, viable seed. Cash with 
order, please. 
