682 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 8, 19< 3. 
Cypripedium fairieanum Hybrids. 
The hybrids derived from the influence of Cypripedium 
fairieanum as one of the parents used in their production form 
in themselves a most interesting and desirable section of the 
Slipper-worts, which are never likely to become too plentiful. 
Indeed, it is quite' possible we have seen the last of the primary 
hybrids that are likely to appear from its use in hybridisation 
purposes, owing to the fact that C. fairieanum itself has become 
practically extinct in cultivation; as far as I am aware, only 
one plant remains, and that appears, from information we can 
obtain, to be in anything but a flourishing condition. 
Its habitat as a wild plant is; unknown. All the specimens 
that have existed in cultivation have been derived from a few 
plants that were first casually imported. It. has been diligently 
sought after during the past twenty-five years, and it is quite 
an open question as to the possibility of its existence as a. wild 
plant at the present time, or of its ever being re-introduced to 
cultivation. From these facts it will be observed what possi¬ 
bility remains for cross-fertilisation in the hopes of again, pro¬ 
ducing the hybrids, and will illustrate the above contention! 
the fairieanum hybrids reproduced from a photograph taken 
in Mr. Norman Cookson’s collection last autumn. They in¬ 
clude : 
C. vexillarium, the first of these hybrids to appear, raised 
by the late John Dominy from the inter-crossing of C. barbatum 
and C. fairieanum. The rich purple suffusion, as indicated in 
all the offspring of C. barbatum, is most pronounced, while the 
white reticulated veinings and deflexed petals show the in¬ 
fluence of the other parent. It is by no means plentiful, and 
should have a place in every collection. 
C. Juno, an improvement of C. vexillarium, raised by 
Drewett 0. Drewett, Esq., Riding-Mill-on-Tyne, from the inter¬ 
crossing of C. callosum and C. fairieanum. It is more robust 
than the above named; when strong it frequently produces 
a twin-flowered scape. It is one of the most beautiful of its 
section. 
C. Edwardii, raised in America from the inter-crossing of 
C. superbiens (Veitchii) and C. fairieanum. It appears to be 
very variable. In some of the varieties I have seen it has been, 
in my opinion, second to none of this section; but in other 
cases the flowers have been of a veiy indifferent character. In 
Cypripedium fairieanum Hybrids. 
that hybrids .of this class will only be obtainable in limited 
quantities, and their attractive • characteristics can only be 
sparingly represented in Orchid collections. 
Culture. —The warm intermediate house, where the tem¬ 
perature' is maintained at, 55 deg. at night during winter and 
GO to 65 deg. in summer, suits the whole of this section. Re- 
potting is best done immediately after the plants, have flowered. 
The hybrids of this section do. not like to be disturbed at the 
roots more frequently than is absolutely necessary, so that, 
when repotting is done this item should be taken into con¬ 
sideration, the plants being allowed a little more root room 
and the compost being selected with a view to its durability. 
I find a mixture of fibrous peat, two parts, and the remaining 
compost consisting of turfy loam, chopped sphagnum moss and 
rough sand, to, be a suitable compost. Press the compost 
moderately firm, and water carefully until the roots get well 
hold of the compost, but as soon as growth, gets well away, 
ample root moisture is required. 
The accompanying illustration, shows a group of five* plants of 
the better varieties the icy-white crystals on the surface of the 
flowers have had a most charming effect. It is by no means of 
robust constitution, and is not the easiest, to grow. 
The other variety in the group is, C. vexill-Io' (next to the 
seed-bearing plant), therefore a secondary hybrid derived from 
the crossing of C. vexillarium and C. Io. It is remarkable the 
extent of the fairieanum characteristics retained in this hybrid 
raised by Mr. Cookson. It is a most attractive, free-growing 
and desirable addition. 
Other varieties worthy of attention which cannot be excluded 
from representative collections are C. arthurianum (insigne x 
fairieanum), C. a, pulchellum (insigne Chantinii x fairieanum), 
C. Niobe (spicerianum x fairieanum), C. Regina, (leeanum 
x fairieanum), C. H. Ballantine (purpuratum x fairieanum), 
C. Mrs. F. L. Ames (tonsum x fairieanum), and C. B iron 
Schroder (the last of the hybrids to appear raised by Mr. 
Seden from C. oenanthum superbum and fairieanum). It is 
one of the most beautiful, and a free growing plant, 
II. J. Chapman. 
