140 THE ORCHID REVIEW. (June, 1916. 
has a small house practically to itself, so that its requirements can have 
special attention, and the plants were in excellent condition, with strong 
roots and clean healthy foliage, promising a good display of bloom when 
the proper season arrives. It isa favourite with Mr. Ralli. In this house 
we noticed a few healthy Renanthera Imschootiana in bud, a plant which 
succeeds under similar treatment. 
The Calanthes—a batch of strong healthy plants—we found growing 
well in the Cucumber and Melon houses, where the conditions suit them 
admirably at this season, and where, indeed, some of the best Calanthes 
that we have ever seen were grown. The heat and moisture, and the shade 
afforded by the overhanging foliage, apparently afford just the right 
conditions for the Calanthes. After growth is completed the plants are 
moved to cooler and drier quarters. Several of the leading kinds are 
grown, and the spikes are much valued for decorative purposes. 
We were also much interested in looking through a collection of Orchid 
paintings, represented fine things in the collection, and in the records of 
species and hybrids, all of which are carefully catalogued. A complete set 
of the Orchid Review was pointed out on the Library shelves. Mr. Ralli is 
an enthusiastic Orchidist, and has a thorough knowledge of the details of 
his collection, which is under the care of Mr. Farnes, an old pupil of Mr. 
W. H. White, who for so long had the charge of the Burford collection, 
which affords a guarantee that the requirements of the plants are well 
looked after. 
Mr. Ralli does not limit his tastes to Orchids by any means, for other 
phases of horticulture are well looked after at Ashtead Park, and we much 
enjoyed a walk through the other houses and the very interesting wild 
garden. These, however, with the trees and the fallow deer, which are 
features of the place, are outside the scope of the Orchid Review, and must 
be passed over. We hope to repeat our visit on some future occasion. 
CYPRIPEDIUM PARVIFLORUM ABNORMAL.—Under the title “A freak 
Lady-Slipper ” has been figured an abnormal state of an American native 
Cypripedium (mer. Bot., 1915, p. 126), bearing what is termed a ‘‘ double 
flower.” The lower sepal is described as having developed into an extra 
shoe-like part, of the same texture and colour, and with the same brown 
markings on the inside, as in the usual flower. It was found by Mr. R. L. 
Fedder in an unspecified woodland, and the condition is believed to be 
fixed in some of the plants, as there were two specimens growing together 
and another near by. The buds had not opened when found, so the plants 
were carefully dug up and transferred to a garden, where they developed 
perfectly. It is said to represent the smaller yellow lady-slipper, 
Cypripedium ‘ parvulum,” which is clearly a misprint for C. parviflorum. 
