ORCHIDS 287 



The Cattleyas have been largely crossed with the Laelias, and 

 some beautiful hybrids have resulted ; but they are mostly some- 

 what expensive. 



The Cypripediums, or Ladies' Slippers, are the least brilliant in 

 colouring of our quartette of leading kinds. They do not possess 

 the rich purples of the Cattleyas, or the soft pinks and yellows of 

 the Dendrobiums, except in the case of one or two species, notably 

 spectabile, which may be grown out of doors. The feature of the 

 Cypripediums is the delicate harmony of browns, and purples, and 

 bronzes, and silvers. The colours are all quiet. They do not 

 dazzle. They do not arrest the eye. Nine persons out of ten 

 who make the acquaintance of these Orchids would be struck by 

 their quaint form, and not by the colour. 



In spite of the fact that Cypripediums are the least brilliant of 

 Orchids, they are among the most highly esteemed by specialists. 

 They had a special vogue a few years ago, and it has not yet 

 died out. Enormous sums were paid for special kinds. They 

 deserve to enjoy particular favour among amateurs also, because 

 they are easy to grow. Several of the best species thrive with 

 very little heat ; insigne, the most popular of all, is a pronounced 

 cool-house plant, and is one of the few Orchids which may be 

 grown in a general collection of greenhouse plants. Thousands of 

 pieces are imported every year, and sold at very low prices at the 

 auction sales which are held in most of the large towns. The 

 colours of insigne are purple, green, and white ; and it is a winter 

 bloomer. There are several varieties, differing in colour, and they 

 are desirable, but much dearer than the parent. Spicerianum, 

 which has somewhat similar colouring to insigne, and is an 

 autumn bloomer, is another species of the first standing which 

 will thrive in a cool house. A third which may be named for this 

 purpose is Schlimii, a very brightly coloured species. 



Most of the Cypripediums require a warm house, and will not 

 thrive in a temperature which falls below 55 at night in winter. 



