THE 



FLORICULTURAL CABINET, 



DECEMBER 1st, 1833. 

 PART I. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



ARTICLE I. — On the Cultivation of Cypripediums. By 

 Mr. Edward Lees, Longford Bridge, Stretford, 

 near Manchester. 



In compliance with your request of information how I cultivate 

 the various species of C\-pripedium3 I possess, I transmit you the 

 following particulars of my mode of treatment, &c. 



Cypripedium is fi'om Kypris, Venus, and podion, a slipper, or 

 lady's slipper, in allusion to the fonn of the flower, which is shaped 

 like a shoe. The flower is not only singular in appearance, but 

 some of them are very handsome. One of the species is a native 

 of this country, and several others have been introduced from 

 foreign climes. 



All the species I possess I cultivate as follows : — I plant them 

 in large i)ans, sixteen to eighteen inches across, and eight inches 

 deep. These pans are filled one-third of their depth with drainage. 

 For Cypripedium Calcoolus, which is a native of Britnin, I use 

 pieces of old mortar, lime rubbish, &c., and for the other species 

 broken potsherds. 



The compost in which I giow Cypripedium Calceolus consists 

 of the following materials : — One barrowful of decayed straw thatch 

 or leaf mould, but thatch is preferable ; one-fourth of sandy red 

 loam, one-fourth of pulvcnRed lime rubbish, and one-fourth of 

 • lean sharp grey sand. 



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