246 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Cypripedium, Hardy, with Illustrations. By 0. Jacobs (Die 

 Gart. pp. 409-411 ; May 30, 1908).— Why has no hybridiser with plenty 

 of leisure tried to cross the hardy Cypripedium with the greenhouse 

 species and forms, and so raise varieties— not more beautiful, for the 

 hardy ones are quite as pretty as the tropical — but to raise a race with 

 flowers more lasting and freer flowering? The best hardy Lady's 

 Slippers are : C. acaule with pink flowers ; C. Calceolus (British plant), 

 with yellow lip and brown sepals and petals ; C. spectabile, the finest of 

 all, white, with bright rosy lip ; C. parviflorum and pubescens, brown 

 with yellow lip ; ft macranthon, deep purple-crimson, as far as the better 

 Siberian form is concerned ; ft guttatum, white with crimson markings ; 

 ft arivtimun, white and pink ; C. montanum white, and brownish ; C. candi- 

 dum, white. Excepting C. Calceolus, macranthon, montanum, which 

 grow best in clay or loam, they grow invariably in peaty soil or leaf- 

 mould in a semi-shady position, sheltered against wind, and fairly moist. 

 A covering of leaves during the winter is advisable. — G. B. 



Dahlia as a Garden Flower, The. By James Hudson (Garden, No. 

 1644, p. 347 ; 23/5 03). — It requires no great effort of memory to carry 

 ona's thoughts back to the tima when the list of Dahlias was confined to 

 what are termed ' Sh nvs,' ' Fancies,' and 'Pompons.' Dahlias at that time 

 were regarded from the exhibition standard only. For some years past, 

 thanks to the advent of Dahlia Juarez ii, we have progressed immensely in 

 our views of the Dahlia as a decorative garden flower. Great credit is 

 undoubtedly due to our raisers of new and greatly improved forms of the 

 sj-called Cactus Dahlia. These have added immensely to the attractions 

 of the garden from early in August until the frosts. Pompon Dahlias are 

 also useful for decorative purposes, though they appear somewhat formal 

 to some. In a cut state they will travel well and keep fresh for a long 

 space of time. Single Dahlias, both the ordinary and the Cactus forms, 

 are excellent garden flowers, very profuse in flowering and with greatly 

 n led colours. Show and fancy Dahlias do not appeal to the garden- 

 lover so much as to the enthusiast who looks upon them more from the 

 florist's standpoint and for their utility for the show-board. — E. T. C. 



Dahlia, 1 Les Allies.' By Fred. Burvenich pere [Rev. Ilort. Beige, 

 xxviii. No. 11, p. 252; col. pi.).— This is a large-flowered 'Cactus,' of 



pale rose, streaked irregularly with crimson. — G. H, 



Dahlias, New Cactus. By R. Dean (Gard. Mag. n. 2576, p. 167 ; 



11 :: " : ; ^ d. ^criptive list of the leading new varieties of Cactus Dahlias, 

 numbering about thirty. The list is evidence that, when once the demand 

 for any particular class of florist's flowers becomes established, the supply 

 of novelties is prolific— IF. G. 



Darwinism in Horticulture. By P. Hariot (Le Jard. April 5, 

 VMM, p. 102 . Aii interesting summary of the researches and theories of 

 harwin in regard to the vegetable world— C. W. D. 



Date-leaf Boat of Arabia. \\y I). G. Fairchild (Bot. Gaz. xxxiv. 

 *0. <i, j>. 151 ; with three photos).— Through the great scarcity of wood, 



