536 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
Europe, Temperate and Tropical Asia, and. North America, including 
Mexico. 
The Cypripediums were among the first of the Orchids 
to be brought into cultivation, and this was accomplished 
with a far greater measure of success than fell to the lot of early growers 
of Epiphytes. The first species introduced were from North-Eastern 
America, and began with C. spectabile in 1731, followed by C. parviflorum 
(1759), C. acaule (1786), C. pubescens (1790), C. arietinum (1808), C. 
_ candidum (1826). All these have the recommendation of being hardy 
in this country. In the year 1816 came the first of the Indian species, 
C. venustum from Himalaya, and three years later C. insigne from 
Khasia, whilst C. villoswm came from Moulmein in 1833. Many others 
have since been introduced, whose dates will be found below, as near as 
they are known. From the natural species, growers have succeeded in 
raising a large number of hybrid forms, which considerations of space 
prevent our inclusion here. One of the more recent introductions we 
must mention, because there is a little story attached to it which explains 
how a rapid change may occur in the market value of a new Orchid. In 
the year 1878 Mr. Spicer, a tea-planter of Cachar, sent home to his 
mother in England a box of Orchids, among them some specimens of C. 
insigne, represented in our Plate 246. When these flowered there was 
one, which was judged by the similarity of habit and foliage to be C. 
imsigne, that differed from the others, and feeling that there was the 
possibility of its being a new variety of that species, Mrs. Spicer sub- 
mitted it to an expert, who at once offered her £70 for her treasure, and 
earried it away with him. Reichenbach, the late great authority on 
Orchids, named the new species (as it proved to be) C. spicerianwm, and 
for some time the progeny of this plant produced large sums of money. 
About twelve years ago as much as £170 was paid for a small specimen, 
and more recently £100 and £60 have been ordinary prices. But Mr. F. 
Sander, of St. Albans, ascertaining that it came from somewhere in 
Assam, sent his collector, Mr. Forstermann, to find it if possible; and this 
gentleman, guided by the name, thought it good policy to make for Messrs. 
Spicer’s tea-gardens, without explaining his real business. The story 
goes that, having been offered the hospitality which is a characteristic of 
the planters, he went on a shooting expedition with Mr. Spicer, who 
pointed out, among other things, where grew those Orchids concerning 
which folks were making so much fuss at home. Forstermann brought 
his visit to a close and set about his real work, found the spot where C. 
spicervanwm grew, though at that moment, unfortunately, a tiger was 
in possession, and his native helpers turned tail and left him. So much 
History. 
