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The genus Cypripedium wiîl be, from another reason, one of the first to feel 
the effects of this confusion, because it lends itself readily to artificial fertili¬ 
sation, and as it finds favour on ail hands, and is extremely popular, the hybrids 
of the genus abound. There is not a month during the last two or three years 
in which we hâve not been able to point out at least one novelty. Among this 
multitude it is expédient, in the mean time, to make a choice. 
C. X Desboisianum is assuredly one of the most remarkable which has been 
produced for a long time, and its appearance has been received in a most favou- 
rable manner by very competent judges, for it has obtained a Certificate of merit 
by acclamation at a meeting of the “ Société Royale d’Horticulture de Gand, ” 
and the “ Chambre Syndicale des Horticulteurs belges, ” on december 8, 1890. 
It was produced in the establishment of Mssrs Vervaet & C°, of Ghent, who 
hâve dedicated it to M. Fr. Desbois, one of the vétérans of horticulture, author 
of the very interesting Monographie des Cypripedium , Selenipedium et Uropedium. 
Here is the description which M. Desbois himself has given of the new 
hybrid, in the Journal des Orchidées : 
“ The upper sepal has the ground-colour greenish-yellow, tinted with white, 
“ strongly spotted with deep black, and bordered with cream-white. The lower 
“ sepal is straw-white, with a dark green line. The petals are broad, undulate 
“ on the upper part, clear yellow at the base, mahogany-red with a coppery 
“ refulgence below, and rather strongly marked with large black dots from centre 
“ to base. The lip is large, elongated, reddish-maroon about the opening; olive 
“ green, veined with emerald green, at the extremity, and bordered with 
“ golden-yellow at the orifice. Staminode flesh-pink in the centre, marked with 
“ dark green hieroglyphics, and bordered with cream-yellow. 
| The foliage is beautiful, broad, stout and robust, and recalls that of 
“ C. X Crossianum; it is very strongly dotted with reddish-brown at the base. ” 
The entire stock of this remarkable hybrid has been acquired by the 
establishment L’Horticulture Internationale, Parc Léopold, Brussels, who 
hâve introduced it to commerce during March of the présent year. 
