PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
159 
laborious collection of many little facts all leading up to his 
scientific conclusions, is certainly not the least to be admired 
among his other learned and careful books. And as to their 
horticultural interest, it is most surprising that so few gardeners 
make the use of them that they might. They were not so 
despised in Shakespeare’s time, for Gerard grew a large number 
in his garden. It is true that some of them are very impatient 
of garden cultivation, especially those of the Ophrys section 
(such as the Bee, Fly, and Spider Orchises), and the rare O. 
hircina , which will seldom remain in the garden above two or 
three years, except under very careful and peculiar cultivation. 
But, on the other hand, there are many that rejoice in being 
transferred to a garden, especially O. maculata , O. mascula , O. 
pyramidalis , and the Butterfly Orchis of both kinds ( Habenaria 
bifolia and chloranthd). These, if left undisturbed, increase in 
size and beauty every year, their flowers become larger, and 
their leaves (in O. maculata and O. mascula) become most 
beautifully spotted. They may be placed anywhere, but their 
best place seems to be among low shrubs, or on the rockwork. 
Nor must the hardy orchid grower omit the beautiful American 
species, especially the Cypripedia (C. spectabile , C. pubescens , 
C. acaule , and others). They are among the most beautiful 
of low hardy plants, and they succeed perfectly in any peat 
border that is not too much exposed to the sun. The only 
caution required is to leave them undisturbed ; they resent 
removal and broken roots; and though I hold it to be one of 
the first rules of good gardening to give away to others as much 
as possible, yet I would caution any one against dividing his 
good clumps of Cypripedia. The probability is that both giver 
and receiver will lose the plants. If, however, a plant must be 
divided, the whole plant should be carefully lifted, and most 
gently pulled to pieces with the help of water. 
%ope®in=3&leness, see pansy. 
