1889, and the figure here given was taken from a plant in our own collection 
in the Victoria and Paradise Nurseries. 
Cypripedium Ashburtonie superbum is very free in habit of growth; it is 
also an abundant bloomer, and vastly superior to the type, the flowers being 
larger, and more beautifully coloured. The leaves are from seven to eight inches 
long, by about an inch in breadth, the ground colour being bright light green, 
sparingly tessellated with darker green, whilst the under side is of a uniform 
pale green. The scape bears a single large flower, the dorsal sepal being some two inches 
in length, and two and a quarter inches in breadth. It is pure white, streaked 
and spotted with rosy purple, and flushed with green towards the base, the petals 
being bright purplish brown, full purple towards the points, and margined with 
pale yellow; lip large, bright brownish purple, yellow beneath towards the base. 
It blooms during the months of September and October, and continues six weeks 
or more in full beauty. 
This variety is at present very rare, as, like every hybrid Cypripedium, it 
takes a long time to increase; more especially is this felt when all has to be 
accomplished from one plant. We find it thrive well when potted in rough, turfy, 
light yellow loam, and fibrous peat, to which may be added with advantage some 
sphagnum moss and some nodules of charcoal. During the season of active growth 
it requires a liberal supply of moisture to its roots, but when this is past, less 
will suffice. Cypripediums are seldom quite dormant, and therefore require the soil 
to be kept constantly moist; shading is also necessary from the direct rays of 
the brighter sunshine, but they enjoy all the light possible, as this strengthens 
the foliage, assists in ripening up the growth, and enables them to produce 
vigorous and highly coloured flowers. These plants, although not very subject to 
the ravages of insects, yet at times are attacked by them, and therefore care 
must be given to prevent them spreading, as everything sour and dirty, and 
insects of all kinds, must be sedulously removed from about them. 
