294 



MY GARDEN, 



common Marsh Orchid (O. incarnata, fig. 615). I should grow many 

 other species, and have them by hundreds, but that I am neither 

 able to procure them, nor to spare the time to search for them. Some 

 of my plants, during the last two or three years, flowered in great 

 perfection, and then suddenly died, but whether from exhaustion or 

 not I cannot tell. 



FIG. 615. Orchis incarnata- 



G. 617. Cypripecliui 

 Calceolus. 



FIG. 616. Goodyera repens. 



When in Scotland in 1871, I found Goodyera repens (fig. 616) in 

 abundance, and brought home many plants. I also found consider- 

 able quantities of the Listera cordata in the valley of the Don. The 

 Cypripedium Calceolus (fig. 617) is one of the most beautiful of our rare 

 English flowers. It has never done well in my garden ; neither has the 

 beautiful C. spectabile from North America ; but both are choice flowers, 

 ever to be grown where they will succeed. Quantities of these flowers 

 might be obtained at a cheap rate from America. 



For all terrestrial orchids I use a light turfy loam, which appears to 

 suit them better than any other material. There are many other South 

 European kinds, growing in Italy and Greece as thickly as buttercups 

 do in our fields, which doubtless, if they were imported to this country, 

 would readily find purchasers. The Comte de Paris is a great admirer 

 of these lovely flowers, and has exhibited many collected by him in 

 Spain and elsewhere. So common are the terrestrial orchids in the 

 Boboli Gardens at Florence, that in some parts of the Royal grounds 

 there are almost more orchids than grass. I persuaded the gardener, 



