August 31 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 195 
eveD. I am much mistaken if there are not some grand species 
to come from the upper part of the Himalayas, as well as others 
from Eastern Asia and the western States of America. I have 
said nothing respecting their cultivation in pots, which is a very 
interesting method, and one which is to be encouraged, as they 
could then be easily protected during the winter by being placed 
in a cold frame. 
C. acaulis. —A peculiar little species, with a pair of large oblong 
ovate hairy leaves, from the centre of which the flower stalks 
spring, which are usually about 1 inches high, carrying the com¬ 
paratively large flowers, which are not less than 2 inches long, 
appearing during May and June ; sepals ovate-oblong, brownish ; 
petals much narrower and longer ; labellum much inflated, vary¬ 
ing in colour from almost pure white and veined with rose, to a 
beautiful rosy purple, when it is extremely showy. It is a native 
of the eastern States of North America, from whence it was intro¬ 
duced more than a century back. It enjoys a well-drained position 
with a liberal supply of sand. 
C. arietinum. —A very scarce and curious species, with stems 
from 9 to 12 inches high, with ovate-oblong leaves, and a solitary 
flower about inch long ; sepals ovate, greenish-brown ; petals 
narrower, of the same colour ; labellum whitish, veined and tinged 
with red. It flowers with us in May, and it is advisable to afford 
it some protection from excessive moisture in winter, although it 
enjoys an abundance in the summer months. Native of the 
northern United States, from whence it was introduced early in 
the present century. 
C. Calceolus. —This is one of our rare British plants found only 
in a few localities, but is plentiful in other parts of Europe and 
North America, with a slight variation owing to distribution. It 
was formerly known as Calceolus Marianus, or Slipper of Our 
Lady. The stem grows a foot or more high, with a few ovate 
downy leaves, clasping the stem. Flowers one or two on each 
stem, with brown sepals and petals, the latter narrow and wavy ; 
lip very conspicuous, pouch-like, bright yellow, similar in form to 
a Calceolaria, and a striking contrast in colour to the sepals and 
petals. This flowers in June and July, and is most easily culti¬ 
vated, thriving even in ordinary borders in a partially shaded 
position, although it is sometimes described as a difficult plant to 
establish. 
C. candidum. —Stems 9 to 12 inches high, with bluntly ovate 
leaves, conspicuously ribbed and downy, with a solitary flower at 
the top ; sepals and petals narrow, greenish white ; labellum 
pouch-like, pure white. This is a very scarce species from the 
western States of America, flowering with us in June and July ; 
and although not so showy as some of the others, it is very distinct 
and well worth growing, enjoying a very moist position. 
C. guttatum. —In this we have a very distinct and desirable 
kind, coming from the damp Pine woods of Siberia. It grows 
from 9 to 12 inches high, with a very short stem proper. Leaves 
large, alternately placed, two in number, ovate-oblong, shortly 
acuminated, very hairy. Flowers solitary, on long hairy stalks ; 
sepals broadly ovate ; petals oblong, both greenish white spotted 
with crimson ; labellum large, bag-like, white spotted and splashed 
with crimson, resembling blood stains. Place it in a well-drained 
spot so that dryness is ensured during the winter, and give plenty 
of water during' the growing season. It appears to have been 
introduced about 1820, but was lost for a long time. 
C. macranthum. —A very showy species, growing about a foot 
high, with a few ovate lanceolate leaves clasping the stem, with 
a solitary flower to each stem, 2 to 3 inches long, of a rich purplish 
crimson shade varying in degree ; the labellum being deeper in 
colour than the other parts ; sepals broadly lanceolate ; petals 
longer, linear, and wavy ; labellum with a large mouth, slipper¬ 
like, very conspicuous. This is also a Siberian plant, and a most 
beautiful and distinct kind it is, flowering in May and June, 
enjoying similar treatment as the last, when it readily thrives. 
It was first introduced in 1828, but has several times been lost, 
but no doubt it will be kept under cultivation now that more 
attention is given to such plants and good supplies are secured. 
C. parviflorum. —A pretty species widely distributed in the 
United States, growing from 1 to 2 feet high, with ovate-oblong 
light green leaves. Flowers one to three on each stem, with 
brownish purple sepals and petals, and a small inflated bright 
yellow labellum. The flowers about 1 to 1| inch across and very 
fragrant, and very similar to those of C. montanum, except that 
the lip of the latter is whitish, while the habits of both plants are 
similar. This flowers in May, and is apt to suffer from excessive 
damp during the winter. Introduced as early as 1759. 
C. jmbcsccns. —A plant very similar in habit and the colour of 
the flowers to our native C. Calceolus. It is about the same height, 
but much more pubescent. The flowers, however, are larger and 
rather brighter in colour, but it is most likely only a varietal form 
of that species. One of the easiest to cultivate, and extremely 
showy when in flower, forming a good kind for pot culture in the 
greenhouse, flowering outside in June. Introduced 1790. 
C. speetabile .—This to my mind is the most magnificent of the 
hardy species, producing stems from l|to 2 feet high, clothed 
with several ovate-oblong, downy, light-green leaves. Flowers 
2 inches or more across, with broadly-ovate sepals, and oblong 
blunt petals, both pure white ; labellum large, nearly round, being 
much inflated, white, heavily tinged with delicate rose ; some¬ 
times the shade of colour is much deeper, when the flowers are 
particularly striking, vieing with the most gaudy terrestrial Or¬ 
chids. The value of this species has never been fully appre¬ 
ciated, although it has been known in the country for over a 
century. Not only is it a most valuable addition to the hardy 
flower garden, but it readily forces, so that it could be more 
largely employed for decorative uses in our greenhouses. Outside 
it flowers in July and August, which happily materially lengthens 
the blooming period of these charming flowers, so that we may 
enjoy one or other of the species from April to the end of August. 
There are several other species which I have purposely omitted 
because of my partial knowledge respecting them, but they are, 
nevertheless, well worthy the attention of the cultivator, includ¬ 
ing C. occidentale, californicum, helveticum, ventricosum, &c., the 
two latter being very scarce ; in fact, I am not certain if the last, 
which is a Siberian species, is to be found under cultivation 
now.—N. 
NOTES FROM NORTH YORKSHIRE. 
I HAVE been much interested with the articles that have 
appeared with regard to the Longleat Vines, and also those on 
Mushrooms. I intend trying the method of culture recommended 
on a small scale, as I think there is no better dish for breakfast 
than good Mushrooms. 
I send you a tin box with some leaves of Coleus and also some 
Begonia flowers, and two flowers of Intermediate Stock. I send 
the Coleus and Begonias as curious instances of cross-hybridis¬ 
ation by bees or flies. The Coleus were all raised this spring from 
seed saved only from one seedling of my own, which is rather a 
favourite, similar to the piece with blue silk tied to it. The leaves 
I have just cut from the seedling plants are only small, as I 
wanted them to go into the little tin, but you will see they vary 
very much ; the piece with red worsted round it has made a 
very beautiful plant. I selected it as one of the best, and the 
colouring is very bright and uniform, the leaves flat and smooth, 
not curled, and measuring 6 or 7 inches by 3 to 4 when fully 
developed. 
The Begonias were all raised from a seed pod of Emperor which 
I had tried to impregnate with Stella. They have varied much, 
though the greatest number of them have been like Emperor, but 
have bloomed more freely and are rather broader in their petals. 
Here in North Yorkshire they seem to grow well out of doors and 
have even ripened seed. I intend to try them on a larger scale if 
I can next year. 
I send the Stock as a curious instance of the length of time a 
hardy Stock will flower. The plants began to bloom in a Rose 
bed near the house before any of the Wallflowers, which were more 
than usually early this year—I think about the first or second week 
in April. All the plants which were single have long since ceased 
flowering, but the double ones are in full bloom still, and seem 
likely to continue for some time longer. 
It has been a cold wet summer for gardens, but there seems to 
be no flower that stands every kind of weather better than the 
hardy Phloxes, of which I have a great quantity and variety, and 
everybody who sees them wants plants. I have many seedlings 
which have done well.—C. P. P. 
[There are nine distinct varieties of Coleus, and every one of 
them attractive. It is curious to observe that, without any attempt 
at cross-fertilisation, not only that the varieties are so dissimilar, 
but that some of them closely resemble if they are not identical 
with some of the older named sorts, such as Berkleyi, Baronne de 
Rothschild, Princess Beatrice, and some others. The selected 
variety resembles Kentish Fire, but is brighter and better. The 
seed parent is smooth, velvety, and effective. The Begonias are 
good, very pale rose, deep rose, orange scarlet, and crimson. The 
Stocks appear to be varieties of the Lothian, and are most useful 
for border decoration. You and the bees have been very successful.] 
Carters’ Dwarf Mammoth Cauliflower.— For several years 
I have tried, like many of my gardening Friends, to winter some 
Cauliflower plants in cold frames. They are subject to so many mis¬ 
fortunes even though they receive almost daily attention, that last 
year I tried a small quantity of Early London, Walcheren, and t 
