Cypripedia. 335 



These hardy species may be transplanted in the spring before they begin 

 to grow, or in the fall after they have ceased growing. Removed at 

 these seasons, the roots may be entirely separated from the soil with safety, 

 and transported by mail or express to almost any distance. But I have 

 received roots taken up while the plants were in flower, which, with care, 

 have succeeded well. In this case, some of the native soil or turf should be 

 taken up with the roots. The great danger in their cultivation lies in their 

 getting dry during the season after they have bloomed. If a good growth 

 is not made during the summer, they will not have gathered strength enough 

 to flower the following spring, and perhaps not constitution enough to 

 keep alive a second season. They should, therefore, be grown in the shade, 

 and carefully watered through the summer after flowering, and perhaps 

 mulched with moss. Mine, however, do well without mulching. C. acaiile 

 is an exception to this treatment, as it regularly fails with me. It evidently 

 requires a dryer and sandier soil than the others ; yet it is found in its 

 native state both in dry and wet situations. C. parviflorum is less particu- 

 lar as to soil and moisture than any of the species. They are all, however, 

 impatient of being disturbed, and can only be domesticated by being left 

 alone when once transplanted. It is well (not necessary) to protect them 

 in winter with a thin covering of leaves or light litter. 



The strips of ground on the north side of house-walls, generally so 

 desolate, where the sun's rays do not reach, and wliere even grass will not 

 thrive, may be converted into the most picturesque and attractive portions 

 of the garden by the introduction of hardy Cypfipedia and ferns. 



All of the native species may be successfully grown in pots in a cold 

 plant-house : but I have had no experience in this mode of culture. Mr. 

 L. Menand of Albany, a professional florist, grows them in this way, and 

 seldom fails to flower them in the early spring. 



There is a very rare and beautiful little native orchid. Calypso borealis, that 

 resembles the Cypripcdium in the sac-shape of its lip. I received a num- 

 ber of its tiny bulbs in full flower, last spring, from Canada. It has a 

 single leaf, with a scape three or four inches high, bearing a large, varie- 

 gated purple and yellow flower, the lip of which is three-fourths of an inch 

 long. George B. Warren, yun. 



Troy, N.Y., February, 1867. 



(To be continued.) 



