Plate 205. 



CAMELLIA — MARCHIONESS OF LOME. 



The very fine new variety of Camellia here illustrated was recently selected for figuring from 

 the rich collection grown by Mr. B. S. Williams at Upper Holloway. Camellias require 

 great care at the blooming season, or they are apt to let drop their buds. But this is not an 

 insurmountable difficulty of their culture, and it need not deter anyone from attempting 

 their growth. Camellias grown in the ground under glass are the best, and this system has 

 been strongly recommended as demanding less attention, being more safe, and the means of 

 producing the finest blooms. Camellias are sometimes arranged in large cases, but the mode 

 recommended is to place them in beds, with a background of shrubs, pots of Lycopodium, 

 with rocks and basins, which are favourable for the plant, and bring out its beauty in a 

 striking manner. The earth must be dug out to the depth of half a yard. At the bottom 

 must be placed about four inches of white sand, and on this a layer of four inches of heather- 

 roots slightly broken up. The mould must not be sifted, but left with small lumps in it, as 

 already stated ; for if sifted or broken fine it decomposes immediately, and in about two years 

 the plants will cease to flower, or, in many cases, it may be feared, even to grow. 



Plate 206. 



CYPEIPEDIUM SEDENI. 



"We have already too long deferred illustrating the beautiful hybrid now figured, and which 

 was raised some time since by Messrs. Yeitch and Sons at their nursery at Chelsea. C. Sedeni 

 is one of the finest coloured Cypripediums yet obtained, and is a cross between C. longifolium 

 and C. Schlimii. In habit it is precisely intermediate between the two, having the robust 

 growth of the one, combined with the unusual and beautiful colour of the other. It has 

 shining evergreen foliage, and its spikes, which bear several flowers each, continue a long 

 time in bloom. Professor Reichenbach originally described this plant in the " Gardener's 

 Chronicle for October 25th, 1873, where the Professor describes the hybrid as being 

 much like C. Schlimii, but with far stronger, broader, lighter leaves, and stouter, much 

 longer peduncles, with more acuminate sheaths. The branches are as in C. Schlimii. 

 The flower is more comparable to that of the old northern Oriental C. macranthos. It would 

 be like the flower of C. Schlimii if it were not more than twice as large, and of a different 

 colour. Sepals outside, greenish purple ; inside, greenish white, with purplish margins ; 

 petals whitish, with broad purple borders, and once twisted ; lip of deep crimson purple, the 

 reflexed borders whitish, with numerous purplish spots ; the staminode whitish yellow, with 

 two purplish spots. ] This plant was raised by cross fertilisation of the two species above 

 named ; and it is decidedly stated by Mr. Seden, who obtained this as well as many other 

 curious things, that the plant obtained by taking either of the species, as the mother was just 

 the same in all parts, which is a highly interesting fact. The sheaths and bracts, and the 

 twisted petals, the broader, stronger leaves, are the gift of C. longifolium ; the other 

 peculiarities and the colours chiefly belong to C. Schlimii, whose cream-white colours were 

 changed to greenish yellowish white. There can be no doubt that the plant seen at the 

 Royal Exotic Nursery, at Mr. Day's, and elsewhere, is one of the best of the Cypripedia ; " it 

 is, therefore," says Professor Reichenbach, " a great satisfaction to me to dedicate the plant to 

 Mr. Seden, who has been so fortunate as to raise it, as before stated, at the Royal Exotic 

 Nursery of Messrs. Veitch." 



