296 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
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HARDY ORCHIDS. 
Bletla. — A genus of interesting perennials, of which 
one species only, B. hyacinthina, rosy-pink, is adapted for 
outdoor cultivation. It hails from China. Nat .Ord. Oichidaceae. 
It requires to be grown in peaty soil, in company with other 
hardy orchids. The bed should be in a position with a south- 
east or south-west aspect, and where it can be scnened from 
the midday sun by trees. Dig out the soil to a depth of 2 to 
3ft. and put in 6in. or so of rubble as drainage; then, by 
means of large stones or rock, divide the bed into three 
parts, filling one with peat, another with equal pa'ts of peat, 
loam and leaf-mould, and another with turfy loan and old 
mortar. In the first division grow Bletias, Habeiarias, and 
Cypripediums ; in the second, Orchises ; and the tlird Ophrys 
or Bee Orchids. Plant in spring. Keep moist in <ry weather. 
Calopogon. — An orchidaceous plant, hailiig from N. 
America, and adapted for growing in the bog gtrden, hardy 
fernery, or on a rockery. The only species is C pulchellus, 
and this bears pink or purplish flowers late in :he autumn. 
The leaves are grass-like, and the plant grows about 6in. or so 
high. It prefers to be grown in partial shade, and n a compost 
of equal parts peat and leaf-mould. Plant in spring. In- 
creased by division of the tubers before new grwth begins. 
Calypso. — The only species, C. borealis, i an orchid- 
aceous plant, a native of N. America, and growing about a 
foot high. In summer it bears solitary flowers the sepals 
and petals of which are rosy-purple, and the lip wiite blotched 
with brown. It requires the same cultural cmditions as 
Calopogon, which see. 
Cypripedium (Lady’s Slipper). — A handsone aid very 
interesting genus of hardy orchids, familiarly known a: Lady's 
Slippers. One species (C. calceolus) used to grow wild in 
Yorkshire. The Cypripediums have quaintly formed low-ers, 
the lower part of which consists of a pouch or bag fomed in 
such a way as to suggest a lady’s slipper. The variousipecies 
are as follows : C. acaule, 6 to gin. ; flowers deep ase or 
purplish, summer. A native of N. America. Grow a peat 
and leaf-mould in a shady position. C. arietinum, ncive of 
N. America, grows 6in. high, and bears small reddish lowers 
veined wdth white in May. Requires to be grown i peat, 
