COOL ORCHIDS. 81 
perience tells me that ten commandments or 
twenty will not restrain them from appropriating 
it. LZ. cruenta is almost as tempting. As for 
L. leucanthe, an exquisite combination of pale 
green and snow white, it ranks with L. Skinnerz 
alba as a thing too beautiful for words. This 
species has not been long introduced, and at the 
moment it is dear proportionately. There is yet 
another virtue of the Lycaste which appeals to 
the expert. It lends itself readily to hybridization. 
This most fascinating pursuit attracts few amateurs 
as yet, and the professionals have little time or 
inclination for experiments. They naturally prefer 
to make such crosses as are almost certain to pay. 
Thus it comes about that the hybridization of 
Lycastes has been attempted but recently, and 
none of the seedlings, so far as I can learn, have 
flowered. They have been obtained, however, in 
abundance, not only from direct crossing, but also 
from alliance with Zygopetalum, Anguloa, and 
Maxillaria. 
The genus Cypripedium, Lady’s Slipper, is 
perhaps more widely scattered over the globe than 
any other class of plant; I, at least,am acquainted 
with none that approaches it. From China to 
Peru—nay, beyond, from Archangel to Torres 
Straits,—but it is wise to avoid these semi-poetic 
G 
