July 4,1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
573 
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Cypripedia. 
Of the four genera that make up this tribe, only two are in 
cultivation, v iz., Selenipedium and Cypripedium. As far as 
cultural directions are concerned, they may be treated as one ; 
but botanists make a distinction. The first named has a three- 
celled, the latter a one-oelled ovary. The genus Cypripedium is 
a widely distributed one, being found both in temperate and 
tropical regions; so for practical purposes I will give them 
under two headings: 
Warm-house Cypripediums. —CypPipediums are very dis¬ 
tinct and interesting plants; they are easily cultivated, the 
flowers retain their beauty for a long period, and the foliage 
alone makes many of them well worth growing. A very modest 
sum would purchase a fairly good collection, and with care and 
constant attention it should soon contain some fine specimens. 
The Cypripedium ( like the majority of Orchids) does not like 
a periodical rest, but should be kept moist throughout the year, 
especially when growing. Repotting is best performed when 
they have flowered, using a compost of two parts rough peat, 
one of sphagnum moss, and one of leaf soil, adding a little sand ; 
a few of the stronger rooting ones, such as C. insigne, like a 
small portion of fibrous loam. The drainage must be perfect; 
arrange the plants level with the rim of the pot, as an .abundance 
of water is necessary when the plants are in active growth. The 
temperature of the house should range from 70degs. to 55degs. 
F., taking 55degs. to 60degs. for the winter. It should be 
gradually raised as the days get warmer to 70degs. F., and again 
return to the minimum as autumn and winter approach. 
Admit air when outside conditions are favourable, and a piece 
of small wire netting placed in the ventilator will cause the air 
to enter more slowly, and then it has time to get warm in passing 
over the hot water pipes before coming in contact with the 
plants. The atmosphere must be charged with moisture by 
damping the floor and stages with water ; and during hot days 
(especially in the evenings) a light syringe overhead will greatly 
improve the plants. 
The chief enemies of Cypripediums are thnp and scale ; fumi¬ 
gate with XI All for the former, and sponge the leaves for the 
latter. If fumigated once a fortnight these pests will be kept- m 
check. When a plant looks sickly it should be shaken out at 
once, cutting away all dead roots, and potting it in sphagnum 
and sand, placing it in, a shaded and moist position, until health 
is restored, when repot in the proper mixture. 
There are a large number of Cypripediums which are con¬ 
tinually being added to by frequent importations and the 
hybridiser, but the following are all beautiful and superb forms : 
—C. Leanum, villosum, spicerianum, barbatum, lawrenceanum, 
etc. C. mi venom is a dwarf little plant, and one of the most 
exquisite, the flowers being almost [jure white. When patting 
add a few pieces of limestone in the soil ; the. same applies to 
C. comcolor. . 
C. insigne succeeds best in a cool bouse, and is a very usetui 
plant to horticulturists, both for cut bloom and room decoration. 
Hardy Cypripediums. —These are well adapted for rookeries, 
the alpine house, and in any position shaded from the mid-day 
sun. They like a moderately moist soil, consisting of peat 
loam, leaf soil, limestone, and sand ; but where it is very wet 
during the winter hardv Orchids will not thrive. After the 
foliage has dried off place a few leaves annually over the crowns, 
which should be left for the plants to push up through in the 
spring. Tlie peculiar structure of the Cypripedium may >e 
noticed in 0. Calceolus, one of the most interesting plants in t ie 
British flora, and it is a very valuable addition to the rock 
garden. Two other useful and pretty plants are C. macranthum 
and C. spectabile ; both should be grown in pots and in the open 
ground. 
C. pubescens is a very fine plant, and not difficult to glow , 
it succeeds well in a damp and cool place. A point to make note 
of is that many of the hardy Cypripediums are surface rooting. 
T. W. 
Some Good Saxifrages. 
1, of course, know that this is hardly the proper time in 
which to plant these handsome and useful alpines, but experi¬ 
ence teaches me that it is only while- plants -are in flower that 
we are able to make a proper selection of those suitable for our 
purpose, or those that suit o-ur taste. I, of course, refer to the 
Rose Frau Karl Druschice. (See p. 572 ) 
S. o. alba is also good, but hardly so striking as the coloured 
varieties. The names of the “ mossy ” Saxifrages are legion. 
The ones that give greatest satisfaction her© are Wallace! (a very 
free blooming whit© flowered kind), sancta (very dwaif round 
tufts, flowers yellow), decipiens (creamy wliit-e), pectinata (dwarf 
silvery-edged foliage), Hirculus (fine yellow), gloibosa (pink, 
dwarf and fine), and bryoides (pink, rather early). 
We have a good many more of the “ mossy ” section, but I have 
given the cream. Probably the finest of all Saxifrages are the 
pyramidal varieties. Very fine are macnabiana and pyramidalis. 
They are much alike, but are easily distinguishable when one 
knows. The latter is pure white, while macnabiana is spotted 
with bright red. A collection of .Saxifrages is hardly complete 
without the native varieties granulata and S.g. flore-pleno; the 
latter in particular is-a gem. C. Blair. 
Preston, Linlithgow. 
average grower, who is not an enthusiast. It is to be feared that 
the Saxifrages (Saxifragas or Ro-ckfoils) are not nearly so much 
grown as they ought to be. It is a mistake to suppose that 
only on specially-prepared rock work can these plants be grown. 
A great many of them do admirably in any ordinary gaiden soil, 
preferably in' good light loam. The front of the mixed herbaceous 
border is a very suitable position, and as several of the varieties 
bloom when little else in the borders are in flower they help 
wonderfully to brighten the garden in their season. 
I will now endeavour to briefly describe some of the varieties 
that do well here. Most of them we have both in the borders 
and planted on a sloping rockery facing due south. The first 
to bloom are the oppositifolia family. They are very beautiful, 
but unfortunately last only a short time in flower. S. o. major 
has larger flowers than the type, and of a lovely deep rose colour. 
