n] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
leaves remain green, but are easily detached from the plant, when their 
lower ends are found to be decayed. What can I do ? ” 
Cypripediums are moisture-loving plants, it is true, but there are some 
kinds which are very susceptible to any water remaining in their growths, 
C. villosum is a species that soon loses its leaves on this account, and in 
the several cases that have been brought to the editor’s notice of Cypri- 
pedium hybrids rotting off, all have been plants containing villosum in their 
parentage. Hence it is advisable, wherever possible, to place this section 
by themselves for special treatment. No harm occurs during the warm 
weather, but when a cold night follows a day in which much water has been 
used, and the air in consequence is saturated at night-time, then the trouble 
appears. A good plan is to look over the plants in the evening, and any 
that have water lodging in their growths should be held upside-down for a 
moment and the growths lightly pressed by the hand, when any surplus 
water will quickly be removed. This treatment is only necessary when a 
sudden change from a wq,|m day to a cold night is expected. It may be 
asked what happens to C. villosum in its native home ? But this is rather 
outside the question, for the atmospheric conditions are probably of a very 
different nature to the interior of a glass-house, in which it is impossible for 
any currents of air in the form of wind to carry off the excess of moisture. 
As the winter approaches and the likelihood of plants rotting increases, so 
greater care must be exercised in giving water, not so much perhaps in the 
actual quantity, but more especially in applying it to the compost only, 
always avoiding the new growths. 
Cypripedium not flowering .—“ With the arrival of each autumn my 
Cypripediums give a supply of flowers that for an amateur’s collection 
leaves nothing to be desired. There is, however, an exception in Cyp. Mrs. 
E. V. Low, which is with me a very shy plant as regards flowering, and I 
wish to know if this is generally the case ? ” 
The above Cypripedium is a hybrid between insigne and niveum, and 
must be regarded as a variety of the earlier C. Venus (insigne X niveum). 
Another name for this cross is Cyp. Muriel Hollington, and although some 
doubt was at one time expressed as to the parentage, it is now believed to 
have been the first hybrid between these two species. Cyp. Boltonii may 
also be mentioned, for it probably arose from crossing insigne Sanderae and 
niveum. The particular shyness in the flowering of Cyp. E. V. Low is 
characteristic of the plant, but whether this can be overcome by any special 
treatment must be left to the kindness of our readers for any information 
they may be able to contribute. A suggestion has been made that keeping 
the plants rather dry in the autumn may assist the production of flowers, 
much in the way that Dendrobiums are treated. But even if this method 
