THE ORCHID REVIEW. ; 45 
CYPRIPEDILUM REGIN&. 
A PHOTOGRAPH showing a most beautiful group of the Moccasin flower 
(usually known in gardens under the name of Cypripedium spectabile), at 
Straffan, Co. Kildare, appears in the Gardeners’ Chronicle for January 12th | 
(page 21, fig. 10), accompanied by a very interesting note by Mr. F. W. 
Burbidge, which we here produce :— 
*‘ This plant has of late years been imported by the thousand from the 
Northern United States of America, until botanists on the spot now have 
to walk or ride a long way in order to find it in bloom. Most of the 
imported plants die off after flowering once or twice in our British gardens, 
So often is this the case that it is all the more pleasant to hear now and 
then of something like permanent success. 
‘** At Straffan Gardens, in Co. Kildare, there was, last spring (1899). 
a bed of this plant which produced in all 400 fine flowers. In the spring 
of 1900, one-third of the plants were sent away, but the existing bed of 
25 clumps bore 300 flowers, and among them were many bearing two, and 
a couple of stems bore three flowers each, both being on the same plant. 
I send you a photo taken by Mr. John McCleath, showing the bed as it 
appeared (1g00). Mr. F. Bedford commenced with five imported plants 
only, from the Sale rooms, eleven years ago, so that good progress has been 
made. The bed is situated on the North side of a wall, and is also partially 
shaded, but not overhung, by a fine old evergreen oak towards the east. 
The soil specially prepared for this plant consists.of bog earth or peat, and 
leaf soil, and a slight mulching is afforded when the plants are below the 
surface during the winter. When in full bloom a temporary awning is 
used to preserve the blooms from bleaching or browning in the sun, and 
to retard their decay as long as possible. 
‘‘The plant is so beautiful as thus seen, happy, healthy, and luxuriant, 
that I hope this slight record and picture may induce others to take up its 
culture in the open air, and treat it in the right way. It is a wood-plant, 
growing in leaf-mould and debris, and in cool shade. Full sunshine, or 
lime in the soil, or water, are fatal, and shelter from cold winds is most 
necessary when the plant pushes up its young and tender growths early in 
the year. The plant may also, if desirable, be grown in shallow boxes 
or pans, in peat and leaf-soil, in a cool and shady frame, and is then handy 
for removal indoors or to the conservatory when it is in flower. It now and 
then does well year after year in peat beds sheltered by Rhododendrons, 
Azaleas, and other so-called American plants, but I have never seen it so 
fine and permanently well grown as at Straffan Gardens.” 
F. W.B. 
ee 
