148 ORCHIDS 



Cypripedium. 



plants were sold for about seventy guineas each. The first 

 division taken from them was sold for £ioo, and by re- 

 peated divisions the /"looo was realised. It is certainly one 

 of the most beautiful Cypripediums in cultivation, h'reaks 

 of this description generall)' carry with them enormous 

 value. 



C. LaivreiiceaniiDi Hyeaniiiii, C . callosuni Sandens (Fig. 44J, 

 and C. vfiiHstiii/i Measnresianuni are all equally valuable 

 from the expert point of view ; but the typical forms 

 are just as valuable, and we have no doubt would 

 be preferred were the)' placed ^\'ithin the reach of 

 the general culti\'ator in equal numbers. No other 

 species is so rich in varieties as C. insigne. C. Spiccriamnn, 

 judged from the point of view of beaut)% has no superior ; 

 but it only varies in the size and substance of the flowers. 

 C. C/iarleszi'ortliu, C. Ciirtisii, C. villosum, and others 

 cannot lay claim to extensive \'ariations. 



Piybridisation is now extensively practised uith Cypri- 

 pediums throughout the world, and man}' are the 

 charming and desirable forms that have been placed in 

 commerce. The named hybrids number over a thousand. 

 It is, howe\-er, remarkable to note the number of 

 these that are inferior in e\ery way to the parents 

 from which they have been evolved. Take C. Spicer- 

 lainiin, a species that has been used in considerabl}- 

 over 100 crosses ; yet how few really good things have 

 been produced therefrom. Strange to sa}-, one of the 

 best, and also one of the finest and most useful h)'brids 

 in culti\'ation — C. Leeamiin — was the first derived from 

 its use. 



Out of the large number of crosses that have been 

 made from C. Spicenniiiiin there are only about half-a-dozen 

 others that can be classed as really fine, although most 

 of them possess good constitutions, flower freeh-, and are 

 useful for cut-flower purposes. C. villositiii also has been 

 practicall}- a failure as a parent. The experiences of the 

 past should be greatl)- to our advantage in the future. 

 By stud\-ing results we are able to .select those parents 

 that ha\-c proved most serviceable. In addition we have 

 the large number of hybrids to afford new blood. So 

 that with careful consideration w^ may look forward to 

 great de\-elopments in the future. 



