In March 1899:—‘... My seed-planting was very successful after June in polypodium fibre (fresh fern mats) in my tree-top eyrie, and from July till October I averaged 500 little hybrids transplanted to pots every month; about one-fourth still survive.... I had an ancient moss-grown magnolia chopped down and cut into slabs, some thirty of which I planted with orchid-seed and kept sprayed. The slabs coming from near the ground scarcely germinated a seed, but those from 20 to 30 feet up yielded from 2 to 3 up to about 150. I also tried oak bark, but while the seeds started promptly they were more subject to disease;... when transplanted to pots nearly all died.
‘Note.—These magnolia slabs were placed in a green-house, not in the “eyrie.”’
It is hardly worth while to quote the list of seedlings obtained by Mr. Mead through crossing plants of the same genus. But here are some successes which, very few years ago, would have been declared flatly impossible—as impossible as a fertile union betwixt cat and dog.
Cattleya amethystoglossa × Epidendrum O’Brienianum; a few plants alive.
Cattleya amethystoglossa × Epid. radicans; two plants alive.
Schomburgkia undulata × Epid. radicans; several plants.
Cattleya Bowringiana × Epid. cochleatum; several plants.
Epidendrum nocturnum × Epid. osmanthum and Epid. cucullatum, pollen mixed; several plants.
Cattleya Bowringiana × Epid. osmanthum (Godseffianum); three plants.
Bletia verecunda × Schomburgkia tibicinis; several plants.