Cypripedium cnanthum is a _ charming variety with evergreen foliage, 
which is nearly six inches long, leathery in texture, and of a dark green hue, 
faintly tesselated with lighter green. The scape is terminal, and rises from between 
the leaves, and bears a single flower of medium size; the dorsal sepal is white, 
green at the base, with violet nerves, marked as in C. insigne Maulei with rows 
of purple blotches towards the base; lip port-wine colour. The blossoms are freely 
produced when the growth is nearly mature, so that its time of flowering is varied, 
according to the time of year the plant makes its growth, and these blooms continue 
in full beauty for six weeks or even more, and this, too, without any injury to 
the health of the plant. 
We have upon previous occasions given instructions in the pages of the ALBUM 
as to the cultivation of this section of the Cypripediums—that is to say, that we 
find the best mixture for them is good fibrous peat, from which all the fine part 
has been shaken, some leaf-mould, and fresh living sphagnum moss, the whole to 
be chopped well together, and thoroughly incorporated. The pots should be filled 
three parts full of draimage material, and covered with some rough peat-fibre or 
living sphagnum moss; this will prevent the soil from running between the pot- 
sherds, and choking the free escape of the water, and the plant should sit upon 
an elevated mound of soil, raised some two inches or more above the rim of the 
pot. When newly potted, water should be given somewhat sparingly at first, increasing 
the supply as the new roots occupy the soil, and when the plants get fairly 
established ‘a liberal supply is necessary, as this variety is both free in growth as 
well as in root development. We find the temperature of the East India house 
suits this variety remarkably well, but find that it loves a shady situation, but yet 
‘it requires as much light as possible during the whole year; it should, therefore, 
be placed on the side table near the glass. This treatment produces strong and 
vigorous growth; indeed, success in the cultivation of this genus depends upon the 
amount of light given them. 
The hybrid Cypripediums appear to be of free vigorous constitution, and if 
kept from the attack of insects, increase in size rapidly, and they may be freely 
increased by division; this operation should, however, be undertaken when the 
growths are mature, and the shoots should all be taken off with roots. 
(Continued from plate 377).—We are extremely sorry to find by the published 
extract from his will that his Herbarium is not only lost to England, but that it 
becomes really a dead letter to the Orchid world by being shut up for twenty-five 
years. The Professor told us, when visiting us some time ago, that it was his 
intention to leave his Herbarium to this country, and we sincerely regret that any 
English Orchid growers should have so bitterly aggrieved him as to cause him to 
have altered his mind and to shut up his numbertess specimens, drawings, and 
copious notes from every one interested in this beautiful and popular order of 
plants. —B. §S. W. 
