1881 . ] 
CYPRIPEDIUM BARBATUM WARNERIANUM. 
53 
axle working in a journal attacked to tke tang 
of the lower or fixed blade. There is a shaft 
or handle about 4 ft. long. The roller, it will 
be seen, runs on the turf to be edged, just 
behind the cutting blades. By means of a cam 
furnished with three arms (or in some machines, 
intended for quicker action, with four arms), and 
attached to the other end of the axle, the top 
blade of the shears is lifted when the cam 
presses on a tooth attached to its tang end; 
this, as it revolves, raises or opens the blade, 
when it is immediately shut again with a slam 
by means of a spring, and in shutting cuts the 
grass overhanging its edges, and thus clears the 
way for the forward movement, preparatory to 
there should be a gentle pressure downwards, 
the back of the lower blade being kept close to 
the edge of the turf, but not allowed to rest on 
the ground or walk, its point being held a trifle 
below the top of the edge. There are different 
springs provided, to be used as the grass may 
be coarser or finer. 
On well-kept edgings, this new machine does 
its work rapidly and admirably, the grass being 
cut with precision, and the line maintained in¬ 
tact, while the work is done much more rapidly 
than by the ordinary shears. To adapt it for- 
cutting more irregular margins, where the sand 
has choked up the grass, or where the grass itself 
has spread out and rooted in the ground or 
gravel, the front of the lower blade has now been 
made chisel-pointed, by which it effectually cuts 
the next cut. The machine makes a cut of 
6 in., then rolls on 5 in. more, and thus, being 
assisted by the rapid action of the spring, 
keeps a clear course for itself before the next 
cut, independently of the rate of motion. .The 
rate of cutting is regulated by the rate of pro¬ 
pulsion ; practically, any speed up to a quick 
walking pace may be maintained, if everything 
is in fair trim. In use, the machine requires 
to be held firmly, and guided with discretion ; 
its way. In the case of the mowing machine, the 
work is so much facilitated by its rapid action, 
that one can afford to run over it frequently, 
while the work is light, and then nothing can be 
more satisfactory ; but if neglected, so that the 
crop to be cut is such as to choke the machine, 
good work is impossible. So it will be with 
this new machine, the use of which will, we 
have no doubt, become general, and it will do 
much towards preventing turf edgings from 
getting into the irregular clogged-up condition 
in which we too often find them.—T. Moore. 
CYPRIPEDIUM BARBATUM WARNERIANUM. 
very handsome Lady’s Slipper is 
ured with remarkable fidelity in the 
rt just issued (ser. 3, part 4) of 
Warner’s Select Orchidaceous Plants , a work 
which is devoted to the publication of admir¬ 
able folio portraits of the best and most dis¬ 
tinct of the cultivated Orchids, and which all 
who take interest in these high-class plants, 
would gladly welcome if issued at more fre¬ 
quent and determinate intervals. It is in every 
other respect deserving of the highest encomiums. 
As an example of the text, the cultural part 
of which is furnished by Mr. B. S. Williams, 
we print, in a condensed form, the account given 
of the fine variety of Cypripedium barbatum 
dedicated to Mr. Warner :— 
Cypripedium barbatum, which was distinguished by 
Dr. Lindley from the allied C. venustum and 0. pur- 
puratum, by the prominent bearded warts which are 
situated along the upper edge of the spreading 
W'ing-like petals, came from the Straits of Ma¬ 
lacca. The variety, which has been called War- 
