Edited by MRS. E. W. GOULD, 2644 Humboldt Avenue So. 
Minneapolis.

Cypripedia, by Miss Clara Leavitt.

The showy lady’s slipper (C. hirsutum) is found in swamps and rich meadows.  Old settlers tell of gathering the pink and white “moccasin flower” by the bushel, to decorate for some special occasion.  Today we are trying to shield a few in their last hiding places.  The draining of swamps and cutting of meadows has had much to do with their disappearance.  The picking of the leafy stem by the ruthless “flower lover” cripples the plant for a season or more and frequently kills it outright.  Attempts to transfer it to the home garden have succeeded for a year or so but rarely longer, perhaps because its native habitat is very difficult to duplicate.

The small yellow lady’s slipper (C. parviflorum), found in bogs, and the large yellow (C. parviflorum var. pubescens), growing on hillsides and in rich woods, as well as in swamps, are the most widely distributed and best known of this genus.  They have often been transferred from the wild to the home garden.  Where they have been given their native soil and environment the stock has increased and seedlings have developed.  They have even been brought into conservatory or window garden and forced to flower in February.

The crimson stemless lady’s slipper (C. acaule) is found in drier woods and on the stump knolls of swamps in certain locations.  It has with difficulty been established in a few gardens.

The small white lady’s slipper (C. candidum) occurs locally in boggy meadows.  It is a very dainty plant.  It grows in at least one wild garden.

The ram’s head lady slipper (C. arietinum) is very rare and local.  It is a very delicate and pretty thing, purple and white in color.

All of these species are to be seen in season in the Wild Garden of the Minneapolis Park System.

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Committee on the protection of Cypripedia:  Mrs. Phelps Wyman, chairman; Miss Clara Leavitt, Miss M. G. Fanning, Mrs. C. E. C. Hall, Mrs. E. C. Chatfield, Mr. Guy Hawkins.

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Our plant exchange should be of great benefit to our members, such a fine beginning having been made last spring.  Send a list of the plants you have for exchange and those you would like to receive to our secretary.  These will be posted upon the bulletin board at our meetings, where exchanges can be arranged between the members.

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March 23.  Public Library, Minneapolis, 2:30 p.m.  Meeting of Garden Flower Society.  Program: 

Our Garden Enemies. 
Cultural Directions for Trial Seeds. 
Distribution of Trial Seeds. 
Minnesota Cypripedia.  Have they responded to Cultivation?

BEE-KEEPER’S COLUMN

Conducted by FRANCES JAGER, Professor of Apiculture, University Farm, St. Paul.