208 THE GARDENER. [May 



and flowering as it does in winter : it is a most eftective and useful 

 plant. 



C. Schlimii. — A most lovely species, with green foliage, each stem 

 bearing three or four flowers. Petals beautifully spotted with rosy 

 crimson, and the lip having a large blotch of rich crimson. Altogether 

 this is a very showy plant. It continues to bloom for two months ; 

 is a native of New Granada. Does well with cool treatmen-t ; requires 

 very open compost, and dislikes being watered overhead. 



C. Stonei and C. Stonei platytinum are two grand Cypripediums, 

 with strong, massive green foliage ; petals 5 inches long, yellow, spotted 

 with purple ; an immense lip, purplish veined with red, bears two and 

 three on a stem, and lasts a long time in perfection. 



G. villosum is another noble species, having fine green foliage and 

 large, handsome, bright, glossy flowers, marked with orange and red ; 

 blooms ten weeks at a time. 



[The illustration (Fig. 13) is from a photograph of a plant which 

 bloomed at ^layfield last March. — Ed.] 



In conclusion, I would recommend as chief points in the successful 

 culture of Cypripediums, always to shade from strong sun, never allow 

 the roots of the plants nor the air of the house to be without moisture ; 

 frequently sponge the leaves of the plants with clean soft water. 

 Mayfield. S. 



[The Cypripediums at Mayfield are second to none as examples of superior 

 culture. There are plants of C. Lowii with leaves 20 inches long and 1\ inches 

 broad, and C. Stonei has leaves 20 inches long by 2 inches ; C. hirsutissimum 

 with leaves 19 inches long; C. villosum, from which our illustration is taken, 

 20 inches long, with fifteen expanded blooms. This came under Mr S.'s care a 

 few years ago with just a single crown. C. Veitchii has leaves 10 inches in length, 

 and C. Fairieanum 8 inches. — Ed.1 



VINE-BOBDERS. 



Until the publication of Mr Thomson's Treatise on the Vine, it was 

 a common opinion that the richer the border, the more certain were 

 the Vines to produce fine Grapes. I suspect the desire to excel in 

 the production of large bunches must have been the chief reason why 

 this theory became so general, there being nothing in the character of 

 the Vine itself to w^arrant the supposition that it specially delights in 

 a very rich soil. 



I am at a loss to understand why large bunches are so much sought 

 after. No doubt they are by many considered an evidence of superior 

 cultural skill. But I question if this opinion be quite correct. Me- 



