About Orchids, page 138 by Frederick Boyle
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more than sufficient. _Sophro-Cattleya Batemaniana_ was raised by Messrs. Veitch from Sophronitis grandiflora × _Catt. intermedia_. It flowered in August, 1886; petals and sepals rosy scarlet, lip pale lilac bordered with amethyst and tipped with rosy purple.
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 watchfu