194 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. f August si, uss. 
the queenly 0. Alexandra. Yet amongst the numerous flowers 
seen in the bouquetists’ shops of Covent Garden 0. cirrhosum is 
evidently a favourite, the peculiar but graceful form of the blooms 
and the contrast of the rich chocolate spots on the white sepals, 
petals, and lip rendering so distinct. The floral divisions are in 
most of the common and earlier-introduced forms narrow and 
much waved, but varieties have now been obtained differing 
greatly in the breadth of the petals and the size of the flowers, 
some exceeding 6 inches in diameter from tip to tip of the 
opposite sepals. As a rule, however, those forms with flowers 
of moderate size are the most richly coloured and therefore the 
most attractive, such as the variety known as Ivlabochorum, 
which is one of the best in cultivation, and is greatly valued by 
Orchid growers. The woodcut (fig. 32, page 197) represents an 
ordinary form of this species not remarkable for its size, but for 
the rich colour of the spots.—L. C. 
SUNDERLAND FLOWER SHOW. 
This was held on the 24th inst. and two following days under most 
unfavourable circumstances. On the opening day an incessant down¬ 
pour of rain occurred, and it was not deemed advisable to open the 
Show that day for the public. The plants were staged, however, but 
judging did not commence till 3 P.M. The plants were very good. 
For six stove and greenhouse specimens Mr. Gardner, Swalwell, 
was first with a large Statice imbricata, Lapageria rosea, Phoenocoma 
prolifera Barnesi, very good ; and two fine Ericas, Lindleyana and 
Austiniana. Mr. Adams, Swalwell, was second, his best plants being 
Erica Marnockiana, Ixora coccinea, and an Allamanda. Mr. Arm¬ 
strong, Elswick, was third. There were five lots staged. 
For six foliage plants Mr. Noble, gardener to Theo. Fry, Esq., 
Woodside, Darlington, was first. He had good examples of Dasy- 
lirion serratifolium, Crotons Veitchii, variegatus, and Andreanus. Mr. 
Armstrong was second with Croton pictus, Latania borbonica, Sea- 
forthia elegans, and Cocos Weddelliana—a very fresh even lot. Mr. 
Whiting, gardener to Mr. Walker, Shot Tower, was first for six table 
plants, including neat examples of Pandanus Veitchii, Croton majes- 
ticus, Aralia elegantissima, and A. Veitchii. For exotic Ferns Mr. 
Noble was well to the front with Davallia Mooreana, Gleichenia 
Mendelli, G. Speluncse, and Davallia bullata. Mr. Appleby, gardener 
to H. Craven, Esq., The Briery, Sunderland, was second with 
creditable specimens. 
For six stove and greenhouse plants in the gentlemen’s gardeners’ 
class Mr. Noble was first, his noteworthy plants being a good Ixora 
javanica, Rondeletia speciosa major, and Erica Marnockiana. Mr. 
Adams was second with Erica Aitoniana superba.Vallota purpurea, and 
Phoenocoma prolifera Barnesi in good condition ; Mr. Appleby being 
third. For six foliage plants in the same class Mr. Appleby was first 
with, amongst others, excellent specimens of Croton Queen Victoria, 
Cycas revoluta, and Croton majesticus. Mr. Graham, gardener to 
B. H. Jyne, Esq., Beecholm, took the second prize. For British Ferns 
Mr. Noble was first with a good collection. Three very fair groups 
of plants were shown, Messrs. Thompson, Noble, and Appleby win¬ 
ning the prizes respectively. 
Cut Flowers. —Epergnes, bouquets, and cut flowers generally are 
usually -well staged at Sunderland. This year was no exception; 
there was even an improvement in the epergnes, which were nume¬ 
rous and well arranged. For a hand bouquet Mrs. Cramont, Ashburn- 
ham, was first with a neat arrangement, consisting of Ixoras, -white 
Lapagerias, Forget-me-nots, &c. Miss King, Ashburnham, second. 
There were seven entries. For bridal bouquet Mrs. Cramont was 
first, and Miss Bathensby second. In the class for epergnes Mr. 
Rutherford, Leases, Durham, was first. The top tier of his stand 
was very light and elegant. The second and third tier consisted of 
heavy coloured flowers, such as Vallotas, Ixoras, and Anthuriums, all 
neatly toned with Ferns, including Adiantums and Davallia Moore¬ 
ana. There were nine competitors. For twelve and six Dahlias and 
six Gladioluses Mr. Harkness, Bedale, Yorkshire, was first with 
good collections of flowers. 
Fruit was not shown extensively, the prizes not being very high ; 
but some excellent Grapes and Peaches were staged by Messrs. 
Larke, Thompson, and Jenkins. 
Messrs. William Fell & Co., Wentworth Nurseries, Hexham, showed 
an excellent stand of single Dahlias of such beautiful varieties as 
Aigle d’Or, Paragon, White Queen, Scarlet Gem, Orange Scarlet, and 
other leading sorts. The Secretaries, Mr. Thomas Humphrey and 
Mr. James B. Anderson, and the Treasurer, Mr. Blacklock, did ail that 
was possible to achieve success, and it is to be hoped the inclement 
weather has not seriously affected the finances. 
Seedling Zonals. —There are many of your readers possibly who 
may have tried the experiment of raising Zonal Pelargoniums from 
seed. There is always a certain excitement in growing florists’ flowers 
from seed, for the one among many reasons that you may succeed in 
having something very valuable. If you sowed early and transplanted 
the seedlings into borders as is usually done, and if the soil is rich and 
retentive of moisture, the seedlings are by this time possibly as thick 
as Dahlia stems, and very likely show not the least sign of flowering. 
If the soil is poor, sandy, and well drained you may have blooms the 
first year; but if as indicated, to have blooms this year, I lift the 
seedlings this month, place them in small pots, and transfer to a close 
frame for a few days until the roots commence growth again. A 
sprinkling with the syringe will prevent the leaves falling. They 
can be fully exposed very soon, and a mass of flowers, perhaps all 
different, may reward your care all the winter.—W. J. M., Clonmel. 
HARDY CYPRIPEDIUMS. 
Haedy Orchids arc much too rarely grown in our gardens. 
The reason for this is difficult to ascertain. To many of our cul¬ 
tivators, especially amateurs, the term “ Orchids ” conveys the 
idea of heavy expenditure in the first instance, and a perpetually 
heavy outlay afterwards ; and this is so if one is enthusiastic in 
the cultivation of the tender species, and especially so if all the 
novelties which come into the field are secured. I do not wish to 
discourage in any way the cultivation of the tender Orchids, at 
the same time it is desirable not to neglect the hardy species, 
which now muster strongly ; and although not so showy as many 
of the exotic kinds, yet they possess sufficient beauty to amply 
repay for the small amount of labour and outlay incurred in their 
cultivation. 
Perhaps inattention to the real requirements of these plants is 
one of the chief causes of their absence from our gardens ; for, 
like their favoured congeners, they have wants which must be 
studied in the matter of soil and situation, these being the chief 
considerations in attempting to grow them, about which,however, 
there is little difficulty. There is no doubt that, with reference to 
the hardy flower garden, we are but just beginning to appreciate 
the value of the proper plants for the work. Why should not 
hardy Ferns and Orchids be arranged together ? This has been 
done in some places to a limited extent, but there is room for a 
greater extension in that direction. No two groups of plants 
could more easily be grown together, as the soils requisite are 
almost identical, quite so in many instances, while quite as much 
may be said as to the situation, and the Orchids would require as 
little attention as the Ferns if properly planted. 
Cypripediums are especially suited for associating with Ferns 
both as regards their requirements in soil and position, and when 
in flower the effect is very striking, especially so in the case of 
C. spectabile. For the subjects of these remarks it is necessary 
to have a shady position with a good drainage, but moist. The 
soil required for most of the species is good peat, leaf soil, two- 
thirds of the former to one of the latter, and some good coarse 
silver sand ; and when once they are planted they should remain 
undisturbed, when they will readily become established. Liberal 
supplies of water are beneficial in dry weather, and if the winter 
is very severe some of those enumerated below will require a slight 
protection over the crowns ; or if excessively wet it will be neces¬ 
sary to protect them from superfluous moisture, which is very 
prejudicial when they are at rest. They may also be planted at 
the foot of the rockery, selecting as shady a position as possible, 
although the primary thing is in this respect to ensure them 
immunity from sunlight during the hottest part of the day, as the 
flowers are much longer preserved if this is considered. 
The following method, which I adopted some years since in the 
cultivation of hardy Orchids, will give an idea of the small amount 
of trouble needed to grow them well. A large tree stump was 
selected and inverted so that the projecting roots were uppermost, 
the spaces between which were well filled with large cakes of 
peat, so that a good-sized basin was formed to receive the soil. I 
used as soil in this instance peat, leaf soil, yellow loam in equal 
parts, with a good addition of old mortar rubbish finely broken 
and sand. Among the Orchids planted in this stump garden were 
Cypripedium spectabile, C. acaule, Calopogon pulchellus, Pogonia 
ophioglossoides, Orchis mascula, Arethusa bulbosa, Orchis pyra- 
midalis, Ophrvs apifera, and Spiranthes cernua, all of which flow¬ 
ered splendidly. In fact some of these species flowered finer than 
ever I had seen them before or since outside, especially Calopogon 
and Arethusa bulbosa, and they thoroughly established them¬ 
selves. In association with them I well remember the surface 
was covered with the charming little Wahlenbergia hederacea 
and Erpetion reniformc, while in the summer Dionaea muscipula 
flourished, as well as Drosera rotundifolia and D. filiformis. 
Among Ferns were Allosorus crispus, Asplenium Ceterach, A. fon- 
fcanum, Polypodium Drvopteris, &c., so that all students of hardy 
plants will imagine the amount of interest which existed in so 
small an area ; and one thing is certain—the plants were quite 
at home. 
Already, as the species enumerated below will show, there are 
several Cypripediums introduced which may be regarded as hardy 
with us, but undoubtedly there are many others indigenous to 
both hemispheres which have never yet been found in our herbaria 
