But one natural hybrid has been identified among Dendrobes--the progeny doubtless of _D. crassinode_ × _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_ × _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_ × _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 × Epi. radicans_; the former purple, the latter scarlet, produce ×a bright crimson progeny.
Miltonias show two natural hybrids, and one artificial--_Mil. Bleuiana_ from _Mil. vexillaria × 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!