THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[January, 1914. 



MOSCOW ORCHID SOCIETY. 



CYPRIPEDIUM BELLATULUM. 



THE first Annual Meeting of the Moscow 

 Orchid Society was held on Dec. 4th, 

 1913. The proceedings were opened 

 by the President, Dr. J. Troyanowsky, making 

 an official speech of reception, after which the 

 Secretary, Mr. Woronin, reported that the 

 Society had displayed considerable vitality 

 and energy during the first year of its 

 existence, and now consisted of 40 members. 

 Seven scientific communications have been 

 made at its meetings, and a special committee 

 has edited the beautiful work on the culture 

 of Orchids, written by the President. 



Dr. Troyanowsky then read the greetings 

 of Russian and foreign Societies, also the 

 fraternal greeting from the Manchester 

 Orchid Society, sent through its Secretary, 

 Mr. H. Arthur, which was received with par- 

 ticular pleasure. Hearty congratulations were 

 also received from Messrs. Charlesworth, F. 

 Sander, H. Graire, E. Bohnhof and O. Beyrodt. 



The following were chosen as Honorary 

 Members of the Society: — Sir Trevor 

 Lawrence, Bart., K.C.V.O., Lieut.-Col. Sir 

 George Holford, K.C.V.O., Sir Harry J. 

 Veitch, Mons. Firmin Lambeau, Dr. R. 

 Schlechter, Mr. J. Charlesworth, Mr. F. 

 Sander, and Mons. H. Graire. 



An exhibition of Orchids also took place, 

 about 100 specimens, all of the best culture 

 and in beautiful variety, being staged by 

 various members. Mr. A. Warjenevsky, the 

 learned botanist, presided over the committee, 

 and First-class Diplomas were awarded to 

 Mr. K. T. Prove, for a beautiful group ; to 

 Dr. J. Troyanowsky, for an extra fine variety 

 of Odontoglossum illustrissimum ; and to Mr. 

 Braschnin, for Cypripedium M. Braschnin 

 (M. le Curte x beechense). 



The President exhibited cut flowers of the 

 best kinds of Orchids, which had been sent 

 specially for the annual meeting by Messrs. 

 Charlesworth, Sander, E. V. Low, and others. 

 The Society expressed its gratitude for the 

 kindness shown by these friends. 



The meeting was a success in e\ery way, 

 and we sincerely hope the Society may 

 continue in the same prosperous manner. 



ALTHOUGH the name of this Siamese 

 species signifies pretty, there is far 

 more in the flower than one usually 

 expects when this descriptive word is applied. 

 Not only is C. bellatulum elegant as well as 

 quaint, but it has many of the essential points 

 of an exhibitor's type of Cypripedium, the 

 chief of which are solidity and general 

 roundness. 



Its nearest relations are niveum, concolor 

 and Godefroyas, although this latter one is 

 generally believed to be a natural hybrid 

 between niveum and bellatulum. Compared 

 with other Cypripediums the subject of our 

 illustration is comparatively dwarf in its 

 manner of flowering, although the texture and 

 strength of the marbled foliage suggests tliat 

 a taller flower spike might be produced. Still, 

 anyone who is an enthusiast of the genus 

 cannot help being fascinated with the plant's 

 singularity and attractiveness. 



Many methods of cultivating this species 

 have been practised, and although they differ 

 in some respects one from another, almost 

 every successful grower places the plants in 

 shallow or well ventilated pans suspended 

 from the roof of a warm house. The specimen 

 illustrated, as well as about a dozen other 

 equally fine plants, were cultivated at West- 

 field by Mr. Hopkins, who deservedly 

 received Cultural Commendation from the 

 Royal Horticultural Society. His cultural 

 method consisted in placing the plants in pans 

 having several large holes around the side, 

 and using a compost of loam and crocks. 

 These were suspended from the roof of a hot 

 seedling house, where they received an 

 abundant supply of water. 



Many growers will wonder whether success 

 can really be gained by keeping the plants so 

 continually moist, but the secret evidently lies 

 in the high temperature of the house in which 

 the plants were placed. A considerable 

 amount of moisture when the temperature is 

 at a low point will certainly bring about 

 discouraging results, and probably cause the 

 death of the plant. 



With such a distinct and interesting species 



