THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ February, 
36 
variegated seedling has definitely assumed variegation, it should be severed from 
the parent plant, and established on its own roots; until this is done, it is im¬ 
possible to say whether it will be worth propagating and naming, for that 
variegation which on the seedling plant appears to be most promising often 
becomes worthless as soon as it gets on to its own roots, not only losing its colour, 
but becoming so weakly as to be incapable of being propagated. 
In breeding for the variegated section, the necessity for retaining a large num¬ 
ber of plants for a lengthened period, that have shown markings in their 
cotyledons, and yet grown up green, is inconvenient to the amateur with limited 
space at his command. They may frequently be induced to develop their varie¬ 
gated qualities by picking out the centre of their head, and so driving them into 
breaking round the neck of the plant, from the eye in fact of the marked 
cotyledon; it is also found desirable to stop a branch in the same way, to drive 
into breaking the eye at the axis of a perfectly marked leaf, the shoot therefrom 
frequently assuming the same perfection of markings. 
My fourth note-book I employ to note down observations as to the results of 
my crosses, remarking upon how far my predictions in book No 1 had been 
verified, or the reverse, the result of colour-blending, the resemblance to either 
parent, in fact to note every incident that occurs to me to be worth recording. 
I employ a fresh set of note-books for each year, retaining the old ones tied up 
in years; and each note-book has a label on its cover, with the description of its 
contents, to facilitate reference. 
I have omitted to state that the earliest period at which I find fertilization 
successful, is the first week in March, and the latest with any chance of the 
seed ripening, the last week in October.— John Denny, Stoke Newington. 
CYPRIPEDIUM SPECTABILE. 
PERHAPS amongst the many species of Terrestrial Orchids there are few 
which, being hardy, deserve so much attention as this, and its ally 
C. Calceolus. C. spectabile , as is well known, is, with six or seven other 
species, a native of the Northern States of America. It is a very showy 
and exceedingly interesting object, requiring very little outlay of time or atten¬ 
tion to grow it successfully. Our native C. Calceolus is a very fitting associate 
for it as regards cultivation, the treatment being that of hardy but somewhat 
delicate plants. They may be grown most advantageously in a cold-pit, though 
a warm, sunny nook out-doors is well adapted for them, if sheltered from excessive 
rains. Under pot-culture they should be potted somewhat liberally in a com¬ 
post of sandy yellow loam and leaf-mould, and when new growth has commenced 
they may be exposed in a sheltered position to air and sunshine, and encouraged 
by copious waterings, until the flowers open, when less water should be given. 
When the blossoms have gone past, the plants should be plunged over the pot- 
rims some 2 or 3 inches deep in old dried tree leaves, there to remain through 
the winter, care being taken that the crowns are buried to the full depth indicated 
