AXD THEIR MANAGEMENT. 155 



Cypripedium. 

 where the plants ma)- be brought within reasonable 

 distance of the light. The staging should be covered with 

 some material capable of retaining moisture — that will 

 serve to counteract the influence of the fire-heat and assist 

 in retaining the desired amount of humidit}- in the atmo- 

 sphere. The ventilators should be placed in such a 

 position at the bottom that the air admitted passes 

 between the hot-water pipes before coming in contact with 

 the plants ; while the roof ventilators should be so 

 arranged that direct draughts are avoided. The ventilation 

 should be governed b)' the outside conditions, but prefer- 

 ably using the lower ventilators. The moisture in the 

 atmosphere must also be governed b\' the outside condi- 

 tions, always bearing in mind that with low temperatures 

 the plants take little harm if they are allowed to become 

 dry at the roots, and if the atmospheric moisture is 

 reduced accordingly. 



The following is a selection of the more noteworth\- 

 species and varieties of Cypripedium in cultivation at the 

 present time ; — 



C. Argus {RcIiIk /.). — Leaves 6in to Sin. long, lin. broad, 

 variegated with dark green on a yellowish-green ground. 

 Flower-scape central, ift. high, single-flowered; dorsal sepal 

 large, white, striped with green and purple ; petals sin. long, 

 deflexed, wavy, white, with green stripes and rosy tips, the 

 surface covered with purple eye-like spots ; pouch broad, brown- 

 purple. This requires Intermediate-house treatment. It flowers 

 in March or April. Philippine Islands, 1873. (B. M., t. 6175.) 



There are several named varieties, the best of them being 

 Moensii, which has larger flowers, with petals more thickly and 

 larger spotted, than the type 



C. barbatum (Litidl.). — An old favourite, which is still very 

 popular, on account of both its variegated foliage and the 

 large, dark-coloured flowers. The leaves are strap-shaped, about 

 6in. long, leather)-, channelled, light green, prettily blotched and 

 spotted with dark green. The flowers are borne singly on erect 

 scapes about ift. high. The dorsal sepal is large and broad, the 

 lower portion being green, beautifully striped with purple, the 

 upper half pure white ; the petals are similar in colour, and 

 ornamented with several tufts of black hairs, which are pro- 

 ■ duced from the purple shining warts bordering the upper edge ; 

 the pouch is large, helmet-shaped, and blackish-purple in colour. 



