i6o 



EASILY CULTIVATED ORCHIDS. 



appearance at every season of the year, even if not in 

 bloom. So freely do they flower, however, and so last- 

 ing are the blooms, that a very few kinds need be grown 

 to keep up a continuous show. 



Without discussing that part of the genus with tall 

 stems of annual duration which is confined to the north- 

 ern temperate regions, cypripediums fall readily into 

 two groups. The first and larger of these is scattered 

 widely over tropical Asia ; the second is purely South 

 American and constitues Reichenbach's genus selenipe- 

 dium. The general character of the flowers is too well- 

 known to need description. They are remarkable in 

 showing the isolated position the genus occupies in the 

 order. In all the remainder of the orchid family no 

 two flowers can be found differing so radically from 

 each other as they do from cypripediums. The South 

 American section chiefly differs from the others in hav- 

 ing a three-celled ovary; the foliage is also long, narrow 

 and pointed ; whilst that of the old world species is 

 broad and rounded. The authorities who consider 

 there are not sufficient differences to constitute a generic 

 distinction, have had their views supported by the new 

 species that have been found in New Guinea, which 

 show a considerable approach to the selenipedium 

 group. 



Cypripediums are essentially tropical plants ; a few 

 species may be grown in an intermediate temperature 

 and still fewer in the cool house, but the great majority 

 require a temperature, which at night during winter 

 does not fall below 55° Fahr. and in summer ranges 

 from 60 ° to 70°. Even those like C. ^'einistuin and C. 

 iiisi^nc, that may if necessary be grown cool, thrive 

 quite well in the warmer temperature. One house 

 therefore is sufficient to contain a perfectly representa- 

 tive collection. The genus is chiefly terrestrial, many 

 of the species being found on rocks with a thin layer of 

 vegetable matter beneath them, and two or three only 

 on trees. The compost in which nearly all thrive best 

 is one of fibrous peat (in which a fair proportion of 

 earthy matter remains), chopped sphagnum moss, and 

 potsherds broken up to about the size of peas. For the 

 strong growing kinds, like C. longifolium and C. Hai- 

 risiatniiii, a little loam-fibre may be added. Cypripe- 

 diums as a rule are surface rooting, and although young 

 plants may be potted in ordinary shaped pots, we prefer 

 to plant the larger specimens in broad pans four to eight 

 inches deep, according to width, these being filled to at 

 least one-half their depth with drainage In potting, the 

 soil should be built up a little above the rim of the pot 

 and a few patches of sphagnum planted on the surface. 

 Water must be given abundantly from April to October, 

 and even during winter they must never be allowed to 

 get dry, and a moist atmosphere must be maintained 

 throughout the year. On warm sunny days the foliage 

 may be lightly syringed toward evening. Fully estab- 

 lished plants are benefitted by occasional applications of 

 weak manure water, and once or twice during the sum- 

 mer a pinch of Jensen's fish manure may be scattere^j 

 on the soil. In both these matters, however, there is a 



danger of overdoing the thing. In a state of nature 

 these plants are usually found in shady positions, al- 

 though there are exceptions ; but under glass it is always 

 necessary during bright sunshine to shade them from 

 the direct rays. 



The large number of species now introduced to culti- 

 vation, and the still larger number of hybrids, gives an 

 almost unlimited range for selection. Of the old world 

 section C. Laiaienceaniiin, C. Hookej-ce and C. Dayaniim 

 stand prominent for the beauty of their foliage. C. 

 harbatiiin is an old species remarkable for its free bloom- 

 ing qualities and simple culture. C. Stonei is a really 

 beautiful species with fine foliage and flowers of a china- 

 white hue, striped with red and purple ; C. Phinipcnsc is 

 really related to it. C. Spiccriamim , although a rare 

 and expensive orchid a few years ago, is now very 

 plentiful — it ought to be in every collection. Other val- 

 uable species are C. Parishii, C. ciliolare, C. Jiirsitlissi- 

 Duim, the strong growing C. villosum and C. Boxallii. 

 C. Sanderiantun, C. Rothscliildiauttiii and C . Elliotiaimm 

 are some of the latest introductions; they are all nearly 

 allied to each other and are noticeable alike for the 

 beauty and remarkable structure of the flowers. C . in- 

 signe, the well-known cool species, has recently been re- 

 cruited by some very handsome varieties. 



All the preceding species when once established are 

 quite easy to grow. Unfortunately the same is not so 

 markedly the case with the beautiful little group formed 

 by C. niveiDn, C. concolor, C. Codefroycc and C. bellatii- 

 hiiii. These four species grow naturally on limestone 

 rocks, and it is found to be a great help to them to mix 

 a few lumps of this material with the soil. They should 

 also have the warmest position available. 



Turning to the South American group, C. caiidafum 

 stands out as the most astonishing of all cypripediums. 

 The petals have been known to reach a length of over 

 thirty inches, growing at certain times at the rate of 

 two inches a day. Its variety Lindeni (the old Urope- 

 diitm Lindenii) has not the slipper-shaped lip common to 

 the rest of the genus, but in its place a long narrow 

 petal, like the other two. C. longifoiiiim and C. Kazlii, 

 although devoid of much color attraction, are very 

 strong growing and are always in bloom. 



Lastly comes the huge group which owe their ex- 

 istence to the hybridizer's skill. It is probable that 

 there are at least 150 named hybrids The great ma- 

 jority of these are recent of appearacne and can only be 

 slowly increased ; owing to this it will be some years 

 before they are available for general cultivation. One 

 of the most encouraging facts about them is that they 

 are all of easy culture, in most cases surpassing their 

 parents in that respect. The two commonest hybrids 

 are C". Sedcnii and C. Harrisianuiii , but others, such as 

 C. laliini/ii, C. Lecanuiii^ C. Doiiiinya)iuin are becoming 

 widely spread. 



The accompanying illustrations represent two of the 

 latest and most beautiful hybrids. C. Niobe (Fig. i) is 

 the ofi^spring of C. Fairieaniiin and C. Spicerianitm ; the 

 general character of the flower resembles that of the 



