iSyi.] NOTES ON CYPRIPEDIUMS. 205 



experienced that tlie very substance of the plants is being pumped into 

 the air. All is right when the atmosphere feels as if a fine summer 

 shower had just fallen. I should hav-e stated that the season for 

 general potting is the latter part of spring, but I pot whenever it is 

 observed that the material in which they are growing appears to be 

 getting out of order. 



C. harhatum, C. barbatum nigrum, C. barbatum superbum, and 

 C. barbatum Veifchii. — These are the best of their class, blooming 

 freely at different times of the year. They have fine marked foliage, 

 are free growers, and their blooms last a long time in perfection. 



C. bijlorum. — This is a very neat and compact -growing species, 

 with beautifully-marked foliage. Flowers white and purple ; blooms 

 in spring. 



G. Mrsutlssimum. — This is a very fine species, with long dark- 

 green foliage and very large showy flowers, the petals being very 

 large, with purple lamina and green claw, mottled with lively purple. 

 No collection should be without this. 



C. Hookerii. — This is another compact-growing species, with dark 

 and regularly-mottled leaves. The dorsal sepal is yellowish, sujQfused 

 with green, and stands very erect. The petals terminate with con- 

 siderable breadth, which being purple contrast well with the narrower 

 part, which is green, with small purple spots. Though less showy 

 than some, it is well worthy a place in every collection, as it lasts a 

 long time in bloom. Native of Japan. 



C. insigne. — An old and well-known useful variety, as it flowers in 

 winter, and lasts long in perfection, and does best with cool treat- 

 ment. 



C. insigne Maidii. — A much finer form of the last named, having 

 more white in the dorsal sepal and petals ; lasts long in perfection. 



G. JcGvigatum. — This is a splendid species, and the fairest repre- 

 sentative of the long-petalled species. It has fine shining green foliage, 

 and from three to four blooms on a stem. The petals are 6 inches 

 long ; at the base they are green, three-fourths of their length they are 

 chocolate, terminating in narrow points of pale green. It requires 

 the heat of the East India House, being a native of the Philippine 

 Islands. [Our illustration of this magnificent Cypripedium (Fig. 1 2) 

 is a photograph from a coloured drawing in Curtis's * Botanical Maga- 

 zine.' — Ed.] 



G. Lowii. — This is another majestic variety, bearing three and four 

 most beautiful blooms on a bold stout stem, and lasts three months in 

 perfection. It has petals 3 inches long, yellowish, with large dark 

 spots at their base, terminating with purple. 



C. caricinum Pearcii. — A graceful grower; has narrow archiiig 



