r 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 x Epidendrum O'Brienianum; a few plants alive.

Cattleya amethystoglossa x Epid. radicans; two plants alive.

Schomburgkia undulata x Epid. radicans; several plants.

Cattleya Bowringiana x Epid. cochleatum; several plants.

Epidendrum nocturnum x Epid. osmanthum and Epid. cucullatum, pollen mixed;
several plants.

Cattleya Bowringiana x Epid. osmanthum (Godseffianum); three plants.

Bletia verecunda x Schomburgkia tibicinis; several plants.

Bletia verecunda x Calopogon pulchellus; one or two plants.

Schomburgkia tibicinis x Laelia purpurata; one plant.

The discovery that fertile unions may be concerted between species, and
even genera, differing in all visible respects, gives profound interest to
the study of hybridisation in the scientific point of view. We have gone
so far already that classifications which appeared to be unquestionable
have been rudely upset. That Laelias and Cattleyas should combine is not
surprising, even though one come from North Mexico and the other from
South Brazil. But what shall we say when Epidendrums combine with
both?--with Sophronitis, Zygopetalum!--nay, with Oncidium!!--with
Dendrobium!!! Sobralia proves fertile with Cattleya; so does Sophronitis.
Spathoglottis has been crossed with Bletia and with Phajus. Zygopetalum
with Colax, with Oncidium, with Epidendrum, with Odontoglossum.
Schomburgkia with Laelia and Bletia. Combinations even more astonishing
are reported, but for those named there is respons