bloomed potful of it at the spring show of the Royal Botanic Society, Regent's Park, in 

 April, 1875, when it received a botanical certificate. It is a native of the Cape of Good 

 Hope, and is exceedingly quick of increase, the two bulbs sent me last season from Colchester 

 having divided into half a-dozen bulbs, nearly as large as I received, all of which have 

 bloomed well this spring, and no fewer than twenty off-sets, varying from the size of a Sweet 

 Pea to a full-sized Marrowfat edible Pea, and even two of these bulblets are now showing 

 heads of bloom. It is, therefore, evident that it is an extremely free and early bloomer 

 when properly managed, as though at Colchester the blooms did not begin to expand till the 

 middle of April, with me without any kind of forcing they began to open on February 27„ 

 It is now also seeding freely, and is said to be in all probability perfectly hardy." 



Plate 219. 



HYBRID PERPETUAL ROSE— OXONIAN. 



The Rose we have selected for figuring is one of the most distinct of all modern varieties, 

 and is another representative of the English-raised seedlings which are just now becoming 

 popular on account of their hardy, robust, and floriferous habit. It is one of a series to be 

 sent out hy Mr. Charles Turner, of Slough, next autumn, and well deserves a place in the 

 most select collection. It was exhibited last year for the first time, and received several 

 first-class certificates. It is a cup-shaped Rose, the petals being smooth, even, and of great 

 substance. The colour is bright carmine, the backs of the petals being delicately shaded 

 with pearly lilac. The ample foliage is stout and of a fresh green tint, without which the 

 best Roses lose much of their attractiveness, especially when arranged for exhibition. 



Plate 220. 

 CYPRIPEDIUM ARGUS. 



No group of Orchids is more interesting than that to which the subject of our plate belongs, 

 and which is itself one of the most distinct of all the newly-introduced species. It is a 

 native of the Philippine Islands, whence it was introduced by Messrs. Veitch and Sons, of 

 Chelsea, in whose extensive collection the drawing of which our plate is a copy was made 

 in April last. At first sight this plant reminds one of C. barbatum, and more than once we 

 have thought it might possibly be a natural hybrid, of which the last-named species and the 

 more sombre-coloured C. venustum were the parents ; at any rate, it is readily distinguishable 

 from C barbatum, which it most nearly resembles by its petals being more profusely marked 

 with dark purple eye-like spots, from which circumstance the specific name given to this 

 plant by Professor H. G. Reichenbach fils has been derived. Its flower-stems, or scapes, 

 are higher than those of any other solitary-flowered Lady Slipper, often attaining a length of 

 from eighteen inches to two feet. The plant grows freely in an ordinary plant-stove or 

 intermediate house, where the temperature does not fall below fifty degrees, and, as will be 

 seen by our plate, it is well worthy of a place in all good collections of Orchids. 

 Cypripediums are generally grown in a fresh, open compost of peat, living Sphagnum Moss, 

 and coarse sand, placed on a well-drained bottom ; but Mr. Thos. Speed, gardener to the 

 Duke of Devonshire, at Chatsworth, has for some years grown his Lady Slippers in a compost 

 of which fresh turfy loam is the main ingredient, and the vigour of plants so grown is very 

 remarkable, both folinge and flowers being improved in size, colour, and substance. 



