ORCHIDS. 



305 



above the rim of the pot ; the soil hest 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 Cypripediums must he exceptionally 

 well di'ained, for they 

 like an abundance of 

 water during the 

 growing season, and 

 as they are entii-ely 

 destitute of pseudo- 

 bulhs to support 

 them, at no time 

 must the supply be 

 cut off, although as a 

 matter of coui'se less 

 ■will he necessary 

 when the plants are 

 at rest. 



Cypripediums are 

 not much subject to 

 the attack of insect 

 pests, hut scale will 

 sometimes fix upon 

 them; whenever these 

 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 ; this can be 

 effected with tobacco 

 powder as previously 

 recommended for 

 derides. 



As a general rule, 

 these plants are gro-^Ti 

 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 aU those not specially men- 

 tioned may be kept in the East Indian House. 



C. Argus. — 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 sm-- 

 face beautifully tesselated with deep green ; flowers 

 some five inches across, and solitary ; dorsal sepal 

 cordate - acuminate, the ground-colour white, with 

 44 



Cypripedium insigne, 



numerous piu-ple 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 gi^een towards the base, profusely 

 spotted and blotched with purple, and fringed on 

 the edges with daik 

 hairs; lip large, dull 

 purple in front, yel- 

 lowish-green under- 

 neath. Spring and 

 early summer. Island 

 of Luzon. 



C harhatum, var. 

 granclijtoram. — There 

 are many forms of 

 this species, this 

 being one of the 

 best ; the leaves aie 

 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 warty on 

 the upper margin ; lip 

 large, the pouch broad 

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

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



C. caudatum. — As with most other plants, there are 

 several varieties of this species; the best form is 

 C. caudatum roseum, distinguished by the large 

 and deeper rose-coloured lip. Leaves twelve to 

 eighteen inches long, carinate beneath, and plain, 

 shining green ; scape many-flowered, flowers large 

 and showy, with remarkably long tail-like petals; 

 dorsal sepal large, and directed forward like a hood, 



