206 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



CHOICE PLANTS FOR THE GAEDEN FRAME. 



BY A LONDON AMATEUB. 



SANT, with only a pit or erarden frame in wliich to 

 cultivate plants in pots, will probably be interested in a 

 few particulars of some plants that are not generally 

 known and cultivated, but which are exceedingly 

 beautiful, and may be grown most successfully without 

 the aid of any artificial heat whatever. The class of plants to which 

 it is intended to direct the attention of the reader, comprise the 

 hardy Lady's Slippers, and a few other hardy orchids ; the hardy 

 Side-saddle, or pitcher plant, the grass of Parnassus, Pinguiculas, 

 and others of like character. A two-light frame, about six by eight 

 feet, would aflbrd sufficient accommodation for a rather large collec- 

 tion of these, and throughout the season the amateur would have 

 something to interest him. It must be premised that these plants 

 will require greater care and more attention than the general run of 

 soft-wooded plants. But when their peculiarities are properly un- 

 derstood, no great difficulty will be experienced in growing them to 

 perfection. Any ordinary pit or frame will answer perfectly, pro- 

 vided it is watertight; for although the majority of the plants that 

 will be named luxuriate in an abundance of moisture during the 

 summer season, they will suffer considerably if exposed to drip. 

 Especially is drip injurious to the plants when at rest during the 

 winter season. A shady situation is required by most of the plants ; 

 and to avoid the labourincideutal to the use of shading material the 

 frame should be placed in a shady situ;ition, not overhung with 

 trees. When the pit has been placed in a position and has had a 

 layer of sifted coal-ashes placed in the bottom to a depth of three or 

 four inches, it will be ready for the reception of the plants with 

 which it IS to be occupied. 



We now come to the selection of the most interesting of the sub- 

 jects particularly suitable for the purpose which we have in view. 

 There will be no trouble in finding a sufficient number, for there are 

 more than will be required in any one collection. Perhaps the most 

 important are the hardy orchids, and foremost amongst these are the 

 Lady's Klippers, which are very beautiful, and owing to the peculiar 

 formation of the flowers, are generally much admired. Cypripeclium 

 acaule is a tine American species, producing flowers quite two inches 

 in length, and of a lovely rose colour, on stems about seven inches 

 in height. C. parviflorum, a vigorous growing species, ranging 

 in height from twelve to twenty-four inches ; the stems are leafy, 

 and bear from one to three large flowers ; the lips yellow, and the 

 petals and sepals brownish purple. C. pubescms is similar to the 

 preceding, with larger flowers. C. calc&olus is a fine British species 

 not olteu met with. From one to three blooms are produced on a 

 stem, and these are large ; the slipper, or labellum, yellow, and the 

 sepals and petals reddish purple. G. spfctahile is one of the very finest 

 of the hardy species. The flowers are produced on stems about a 



