irector of the Botanic Gardens at Buitzenzorze, in Java; but that
gentleman and his successors in office have been unable to find another
plant. These three must have reached the Gardens by an accident--as they
left it--presented perhaps by some Dutchman who had been travelling.

_Cyp. purpuratum_ is almost extinct at Hong Kong, and is vanishing fast
on the mainland. It is still found occasionally in the garden of a
peasant, who, we are told, resolutely declines to sell his treasure.
This may seem incredible to those who know the Chinaman, but Mr.
Roebelin vouches for the fact; it is one more eccentricity to the credit
of that people, who had quite enough already. Collectors expect to find
a new habitat of _Cyp. purpuratum_ in Formosa when they are allowed to
explore that realm. Even our native _Cyp. calceolus_ has almost
disappeared; we get it now from Central Europe, but in several districts
where it abounded the supply grows continually less. The same report
comes from North America and Japan. Fortunate it is, but not surprising
to the thoughtful observer, that this genus grows and multiplies with
singular facility when its simple wants are supplied. There is no danger
that a species which has been rescued from extinction will perish under
human care.

This seems contradictory. How should a plant thrive better under
artificial conditions than in the spot where Nature placed it? The
reason lies in that archaic character of the Cypriped which Darwin
pointed out. Its time has passed--Nature is improving it off the face of
the earth. A gradual change of circumstances makes it more and more
difficult for this primitive form of orchid to exist, and, conscious of
the fate impending, it gratefully accepts our help.

One cause of extermination is easily grasped. Cypripeds have not the
power of fertilizing themselves, except a single species, _Cyp.
Schlimii_, which--accordingly, as we may say--is most difficult to
import and establish; moreover, it flowers so freely that the seedlings
are always weak. In all species the sexual apparatus is so constructed
that it cannot be impregnated by accident, and few insects can perform
the office. Dr. Hermann Muller studied _Cyp. calceolus_ assiduously in
this point of view. He observed only five species of insect which
fertilize it. _Cyp. calceolus_ has perfume and honey, but none of the
tropical species offer those attractions. Their colour is not showy. The
labellum proves to be rath