IRISH GARDENING. 



13 



Cypripedium insigne* 



Of all the Orchids under cultivation none are 

 more useful or popular than the one quoted above. 

 It is grown in quantity in many collections, and it 

 is often well represented in gardens where no 

 attempt is made to cultivate other members of 

 the great order Orchidese, while the amateur with 

 only one house often succeeds in getting a few 

 flowers which would pass muster at some of the 

 London shows. 



It may be of interest to some readers to know 

 that C. insigne was discovered by Dr. Wallich in 

 the Sylhet district of ncrth-east India, and sent 

 by him to England about the year 1819, and we 

 are told that it flowered for the first time in this 

 country at the Liverpool Botanic Gardens in the 

 autumn of 1820. It was subseqviently found by 

 Griffith on the Khasia Hills, and since' then some 

 thousands of plants have been imported. 



It is a most variable Gypripedium, but a 

 typical flower has a greenish dorsal sejial, with 

 bi'own-pur()le s^wts at the centre and base, the 

 apex being white. The petals are yellowish- 

 green shaded with brown ])urple, and the pouch 

 or lip is similarly coloured. There are also a 

 host of named varieties, more or less distinct, and 

 for a general display 1 should confine myself to 

 three of the best. viz. : — 



C. insigne Chantinii is a distinct variety, which 

 is distinguished by the mauve-pvirple spots on the 

 white area of the dorsal sepal. 



C. insigne Harefield Hall produces a large bold 

 flower, the dorsal sepal being heavily spotted 

 with chocolate, and broadly margined with, pure 

 white. 



G. insigne Sanderae is the finest of all the yeUow 

 forms. The flowers are a delicate jjrimrose- 

 yellow, excepting the broad white apical margin 

 of the dorsal sepal, and a few pin-like brown dots 

 at the base. 



All this trio possess a robust constitution, and 

 the blooms are of great value for decorative 

 ])urposes. 



GuLTURAL Details. — It should be stated at 

 the outset that the subject of this article is one 

 of the easiest to cultivate. All the varieties 

 ]jroduce their flowers during the winter months, 

 and as fog resisters they have no equal, which 

 renders it a most desirable plant to grow near 

 large manufacturing towns, while its lasting 

 qualities in a cut state are remarkable. A few 

 weeks after the blooms are removed any necessary 

 repotting should be done, but this is not desirable 

 every year, and the best results are obtained by 

 giving fresh rooting material every third year. 

 This consists of the best fibrous loam one-half, 

 good quality peat one-fourth, and si)hagnum moss 

 one-fourth. All the fine particles must be 

 removed, and the loam and peat broken u]i in 

 pieces about the size of a walnut, while the 

 sphagnum is cut up tolerably fine. A six-inch 

 potful of crushed crocks may be added to each 

 bushel of the compost, and when thoroughly 

 mixed it will be ready for use. Ordinary flower 

 ])ots should be chosen and filled one-fourth of 

 their de])th with drainage, over which is placed a 

 thin layer of si)hagnum to secure a free outlet for 

 water. Over-potting must be guarded against, 

 and if a receptacle is selected which will com- 

 fortably hold the roots all will be well. Plants of 



moderate dimensions may be moved on intact, 

 just i)icking out of the drainage, and any sour coni- 

 jHjst on the surface, but where they have become 

 large, say in 16-inch pots, it is best to si)lit them 

 up. If left for a number of years, the centre will 

 be un])roductive so far as flowers are concerned, 

 and the plant will gradually deteriorate. When 

 it is decided to divide a specimen, the rhizome 

 should be severed in a few jilaces immediately 

 after the flowers are cut, and the plant can be 

 kept on the dry side a few days prior to disturb- 

 ance. It may be expedient to break the pot to 

 ])revent excessive injury, and in making the 

 division the roots must be carefully unravelled, 

 and then repotted in rather small pots. Press the 

 soil moderately firm, and it may be necessary to 

 tie each portion to a neat stake until root action 

 is well advanced. 



Subsequent Treatment. — WTien the repotting 

 is completed, sufficient rain-water should be 

 afforded to wet the whole of the compost, then 

 no more direct watering will be needed for several 

 days, if the surroundings are kei)t moist by 

 sprinkling the floor and stages with a water pot 

 or syringe. So far as temperature is concerned 

 G. insigne is not at all fastidious. I have grown 

 good examples in the cool house, among the 

 Gattleyas. in the ]3lant store and vinery, also an 

 ordinary intermediate house, but the most suit- 

 able temperature is 55° Fahr. during winter, 

 with a rise of 10 degrees or so through the summer 

 months. I know some keep their plants cooler, 

 but the grower will be well repaid by providing 

 the few extra degrees of warmth. Shade will be 

 required from the direct rays of the sun, and 

 throvighout the hottest ))eriod of the year a light 

 siiray over-head will be beneficial. A moist 

 atmos|)here is essential to secure healthy luxuriant 

 growth, but this factor is not so important in the 

 culture of G. insigne, as with many others belong- 

 ing to the same genus. 



All Gypripeds must be kept moist at the root 

 throughout the year, the greatest quantity being 

 needed during active growth, and it should be 

 borne in mind that they are always growing more 

 or less, and never really at rest. 



Insect Pests. — There are comx'aratively few, 

 especially if a house is devoted to their culture. 

 Thrip is the most troublesome, but it can easily 

 be held in check by vapourising the house with 

 XL All, or spraying with a solution of XL All 

 insecticide directly they are seen. Scale is rarely 

 seen if the cultural requirements are right, and it 

 should be removed with a sponge or pointed stick, 



W. B. 



The German Forestry Service — 

 Ravage of the War. 



The Canadian Forestry Journal points out that 

 one effect of the war is the virtual disappearance 

 of the European professional forester. A German 

 forestry journal, in its two last issues, printed 

 10') pages of obituaries of foresters killed in action. 

 The sharp-shooting and scouting of the German 

 Army has been largely done by men drawn from 

 the State's forest forces, and the mortality among 

 them has been high. There is now in Ganada a 

 very considerable number of men trained to this 

 class of work. 



