162 
THE ORCHID WORLD. 
[April, 1913. 
Bradford. The following awards were made 
by the Orchid Committee : — 
Second-class Diplomas to Dendrobium 
Austmii Thwaites' var., Lycaste Skinneri 
'Ihe Knowle van, both from J. Hartley, Esq. ; 
and Odontoglossum Rolfea; violacea, from 
Messrs. Mansell and Hatcher. 
The following medals were awarded for 
groups of Orchids : — Silver Medals to Messrs. 
ORCHIDS FOR 
CYPRIPEDIUMS are the easiest of 
all Orchids to cultivate, and on 
that account may well be recom- 
mended to the amateur. Large cities and 
manufacturing towns are noted for their 
autumn fogs and winter dulness, conditions 
which are by no means beneficial to any 
Orchid. The wonder is that any form of 
vegetation is able to exist, yet, in close 
proximity to these comparatively unhealthy 
spots, Cypripediums flourish and produce an 
excellent display of bloom during the dullest 
of the winter months. 
The writer has seen many excellent speci- 
mens potted in ordinary soil and growing 
luxuriantly in a cool greenhouse, such as is 
often used for the protection of bedding 
plants. In their native country they are 
frequently discovered in dense forests, 
where they are happy and find a 
comfortable home m the rich vegetable 
matter to be found at the foot of the\ 
trees. Their condition of growth is thus 
entirely terrestrial, and the soil and atmo- 
sphere being continually moist they have no 
need for pseudo-bulbs, which, in the case of 
epiphytic and other Orchids, assist them 
through a period of drought by storing up 
water and nutriment until the rainy season 
again returns. It will thus be seen what suit- 
able plants Cypripediums are for cultivation 
in vineries and various shady and moist 
greenhouses. 
Some amateurs have expressed an opinion 
that large bulbed Orchids are unsightly during 
the time they are not in flower ; but, be this 
as it may, no one can make a similar remark 
J. Hartley, The Knowle, Bradford ; F. A. 
Hindley, Great Horton ; and Mansell and 
Hatcher, Rawdon, Leeds. Bronze Medal to 
Messrs. A. J. Keeling and Sons, Bradford. 
Mr. J. Scott, Newlay, Horsforth, Leeds, 
exhibited Dendrobium Jamesianum. 
The Society's Magazine for March contains 
an article, " Orchids as a Hobby," by Mr. J. T. 
Barker, of Hessle, Hull. 
AMATEURS. 
concerning the Cypripedium, its neat, often- 
times handsomely mottled leaves at all times 
being ornamental to any plant house. 
Although Cypripediums flourish well in 
ordinary soil, there is no doubt that the finest 
results are achieved by using good fibrous 
loam and osmunda or peat, with the addition 
of a little sphagnum moss and coarse silver 
sand. This compost should be carefully 
worked in among the roots and the whole 
pressed moderately firm, always leaving a 
space of about half an inch at the top for 
the purpose of receiving a good share of water 
when this operation is carried out. 
Repotting is best done when the new 
growths are about an inch m height, for it 
IS then that the new roots commence to grow 
and enter the fresh compost. Propagation 
may easily be done at the same time by 
merely dividing a specimen into pieces con- 
sisting of two or more growths, or, in the 
case of a rare variety, every single growth 
that has roots may be placed in a separate 
pot. Newly potted plants should be carefully 
attended to until they again become estab- 
lished. The leaves should be kept moist, and 
no direct sunshine should reach them until 
the roots have obtained a good hold of the 
new compost. 
Cypripediums, although liking a good light 
during the winter months, require fairly 
heavy shading during the summer time, and 
an abundance of atmospheric moisture at all 
times. The following are easily grown 
cool-house species : insigne, villosum, and 
Spicerianum, while their various hybrids are 
equally suitable. If a minimum temperature 
