ORCHIDS. 



305 



above the rim of the pot ; the soil best adapted for 

 them is a mixture of two parts rough peat, one part 

 good leaf-mould, and one part chopped Sphagnum 

 moss ; to this add a little sharp sand, whilst some 

 species like the addition of a portion of yellow loam. 



The pots for Cypiipediums must be exceptionally 

 well drained, for they 

 like an abundance of 

 water during the 

 growing season, and 

 as they are entirely 

 destitute of pseudo- 

 bulbs to support 

 them, at no time 

 must the supply be 

 cut off, although as a 

 matter of course less 

 will be necessary 

 when the plants are 

 at rest. 



Cypripediums are 

 not much subject to 

 the attack of insect 

 pests, but scale will 

 sometimes fix upon 

 them; wheneverthese 

 are seen, remove at 

 once with sponge and 

 soft-soap and water. 

 But the red thrip is 

 their worst enemy, 

 and must be extermi- 

 nated immediately it 

 puts in an appear- 

 ance ; ttiJK can be 

 effected with tobacco 

 powder as previously 

 recommended for 

 jieridet. 



As a general rule, 

 theseplants are grown 

 in the East Indian 

 House, but the ma- 

 jority of the species 

 thrive best in a cooler 

 temperature; it will 



therefore be necessary to specify these in the descrip- 

 tive enumeration, but all those not specially men- 

 tioned may be kept in the East Indian House. 



C. Atyus.— This is undoubtedly one of the very 

 handsomest of the harbatum section. Leaves up- 

 wards of six inches long ; oblong-lanceolate, tapering 

 to a point, pale green on both sides, the upper sur- 

 fece beautifully tesselated with deep green ; flowers 

 some five inches across, and solitary; dorsal sepal 

 cordate -acuminate, the ground-colour white, with 



CrpEIPEDnJM rSSIGKE. 



numerous purple and green- stripes running from 

 point to base ; the lateral sepals, like all in this 

 genus, are combined and are somewhat incon- 

 spicuous ; petals upwards of three inches long, rose- 

 colour, tinged with green towards the base, profusely 

 spotted and blotched with purple, and fringed on 

 the edges with dark 

 hairs; Up large, dull 

 purple in front, yel- 

 lowish-green under- 

 neath. Spring Eind 

 early summer. Island 

 of Luzon. 



C. barbatum, var. 

 grandijioi-um. — There 

 are many forms of 

 this species, this 

 being one of the 

 best; the leaves are 

 oblong and bright 

 green, tesselated with 

 dark green ; flowers- 

 large and solitary. 

 The ordinary form 

 has a small dorsal 

 sepal, and a smaller 

 and more pointed 

 pouch-like lip. This 

 variety is distin- 

 guished by its very 

 broad dorsal sepal,, 

 which measures some- 

 two and a half inches, 

 in diameter, white, 

 striped from base to 

 apex with lines of 

 greenish - pm:ple or 

 port - -wine colour ; 

 petals warm rose- 

 colour, tinged with 

 green towards the 

 base, fringed on the 

 edges -with purplish 

 hairs, and -srarty on 

 the upper margin ; lip 

 large, the pouch broad 

 and obtuse, deep port-wine colour. It lasts long in 

 fuU beauty. Spring and summer. Malacca, &c. 



a eaudatum.— As with most other plants, there are 

 several varieties of this species; the best form is- 

 C. eaudatum roseum, distinguished by the large 

 and deeper rose-coloured Hp. Leaves twelve to 

 eighteen inches long, carinate beneath, and plam, 

 shining green; scape many-flowered, flowers large 

 and showy, with remarkably long taU-like petals; 

 doraal sepal large, and directed forward like a hood. 



