But one natural hybrid has been identified among Dendrobes—­the progeny doubtless of D. crassinode x D.  Wardianum.  Messrs. J. Laing have a fine specimen of this; it shows the growth of the latter species with the bloom of the former, but enlarged and improved.  Several other hybrid crosses are suspected.  Of artificial we have not less than fifty.

Phaius—­it is often spelt Phajus—­is so closely allied with Calanthe that for hybridizing purposes at least there is no distinction.  Dominy raised Ph. irroratus from Ph. grandifolius x Cal. vestita; Seden made the same cross, but, using the variety Cal. v. rubro-occulata, he obtained Ph. purpureus.  The success is more interesting because one parent is evergreen, the other, Calanthe, deciduous.  On this account probably very few seedlings survive; they show the former habit.  Mr. Cookson alone has yet raised a cross between two species of Phajus—­Ph.  Cooksoni from Ph.  Wallichii x Ph. tuberculosus.  One may say that this is the best hybrid yet raised, saving Calanthe Veitchii, if all merits be considered—­stateliness of aspect, freedom in flowering, striking colour, ease of cultivation.  One bulb will throw up four spikes—­twenty-eight have been counted in a twelve-inch pot—­each bearing perhaps thirty flowers.

Seden has made two crosses of Chysis, both from the exquisite Ch. bractescens, one of the loveliest flowers that heaven has granted to this world, but sadly fleeting.  Nobody, I believe, has yet been so fortunate as to obtain seed from Ch. aurea.  This species has the rare privilege of self-fertilization—­we may well exclaim, Why! why?—­and it eagerly avails itself thereof so soon as the flower begins to open.  Thus, however watchful the hybridizer may be, hitherto he has found the pollen masses melted in hopeless confusion before he can secure them.

One hybrid Epidendrum has been obtained—­Epi.  O’Brienianum from Epi. evectum x Epi. radicans; the former purple, the latter scarlet, produce xa bright crimson progeny.

Miltonias show two natural hybrids, and one artificial—­Mil.  Bleuiana from Mil. vexillaria x Mil.  Roezlii; both of these are commonly classed as Odontoglots, and I refer to them elsewhere under that title.  M. Bleu and Messrs. Veitch made this cross about the same time, but the seedlings of the former flowered in 1889, of the latter, in 1891.  Here we see an illustration of the advantage which French horticulturists enjoy, even so far north as Paris; a clear sky and abundant sunshine made a difference of more than twelve months.  When Italians begin hybridizing, we shall see marvels—­and Greeks and Egyptians!

Masdevallias are so attractive to insects, by striking colour, as a rule, and sometimes by strong smell—­so very easily fertilized also—­that we should expect many natural hybrids in the genus.  They are not forthcoming, however.  Reichenbach displayed his scientific instinct by suggesting that two species submitted to him might probably be the issue of parents named; since that date Seden has produced both of them from the crosses which Reichenbach indicated.