1156 



The Weekly Florist?' Review* 



APKIL 21. 1904. 



normal siinimei- and autumn. But stil', 

 there are few subjects in the outsiue 

 garden that give a lengthier or a brigliter 

 display. I would like to see growers 

 give, as a rule, a little more attention 

 to the cultural needs of their cactus dah- 

 lias. It appears to nie that gardeners 

 generally are behind the exhibitor in tlii^ 

 matter. For instance, one could wish 

 that the same caie be takeu in propa- 

 gating young stock, and in growing thera 

 on under glass into nice sturdy i)lants, 

 well rooted in (i-ineh, or even larger, 

 pots, by planting-out time, in the same 

 wav that we find chrysanthemums maa- 

 aged in their early stages. The results 

 would be more encouraging. Instead of 

 this, we too often find the old roots of 

 dahlias stored away under the benches, 

 brought out in spring, cut into pieces, 

 planted, and the same process followed 

 year after year. 



Cactus dahlias like plenty of room 

 when growing. It is well not to have 

 a plant closer than four fett to its 

 neighbor. A soil deeply dug, and well 

 worked, suits them bettor than one rich 

 in manures. The latter has a ten- 

 dency to produce too much leaf. But 



tion. Disbudding the blooms of cactus 

 dahlias may readily be overdone. In the 

 case of most sorts this means of gain- 

 ing nicely-shaped flowers will defeat our 

 oliject, and instead we obtain blooms 

 witli faulty centers. In the matter of 

 the best buds, I have especially noticed 

 this. The buds, as a rule, are thrown 

 up in threes. Now, the central one, 

 which looks like giving the finer bloom, 

 usually finishes inferior to the side ones 

 in form, as will as in the stiifness and 

 length of the stems. And, again, it is 

 important that the growing shoots im- 

 mediately under the flower buds be re- 

 moved, because if left they will gro\v 

 faster than the buds, and smother them. 

 I would, however, leave the lower shoots. 

 These advance eventually, and continue 

 the display of flowers. 



Improved varieties of cactus dahlias 

 are being produced so rajiidly that it is 

 rare any one lasts longer than three or 

 four years, tliat is if we have a desire 

 to cultivate the best. It may be well 

 to first name the certificated varieties of 

 the past year, because it is certain there 

 are among them some very choice things. 

 CeM-tificates at other than the real dahlia 



Alocasia lUustris. 



manures placed on the suiface in sum- 

 mer time, .when the flower buds are 

 swelling, are not easily overdone. 



A good foundation to a well-grown 

 plant ''should be made by thinning the 

 groAvth when young. Select about four 

 side shoots to" form main stems subse- 

 quentlv, then tie each to a sepa- 

 rate stake, pointing in an outward direc- 



soeieties and the Eoyal Horticultural 

 Society are not counted. They are mis- 

 leading, and have little value: Comet, 

 pink, speckled crimson; Dainty, lemon- 

 yellow, shaded pink; Florence M. Stred- 

 wick, White; George Gordon, orange- 

 yellow; H. W. Sillem, vermilion-red; 

 Laely Colin Campbell,' orange-yellow; 

 Laurette. yellow, edged red ; Mrs. H. L. 



Brousson, yellow, shaded salmon; Mrs. 

 J. W. Wilkinson, light pink; Pearl, 

 blight pink, lighter tips; Premier, crim- 

 son-scarlet; Eainbow, soft pink; Sirius, 

 ye'Uow, speckled crimson; Sweet Nell, 

 blush-pink; Violetta, violet-rose. — Gar- 

 eleners' Magazine, 



ALOCASIA ILLUSTRIS. 



Among the highest authorities there is 

 some confusion whether this most orna- 

 mental plant is an aloca.sia or colocasia. 

 Alocasias, colocasias and caladiums are 

 closely allied. The difference is some 

 slight variation in the flower or fruit 

 character. Broadly, we would say that 

 the alocasias are evergreen and the colo- 

 casias herbaceous. We all know the 

 beautiful fancy-leaveel caladiums that 

 are herbaceous. More familiar still 

 is the so-called Caladiiun esculentum. 

 which is not a caladium but a eoloi 

 and familiar to all lovers of plants is 

 Alocasia cuprea (metallica).' The above 

 are types of these three closely allied 

 genera. Nicholson classes illustris as an 

 alocasia, so let it go at that. 



During the Pan-Ameiican j'ear a cir- 

 cular bed of this most ornamental plant 

 could be seen in front of the park super- 

 intendent 's residence, on Elmwood ave- 

 nue, Buffalo, where thousands traveled to 

 the show. The illustration will give a 

 better idea of its form than any de- 

 scription. The color of the leaves is a 

 rich dark gieen, with olive black spots 

 or patches, but no description can give 

 an adequate idea of the subdued but rich 

 coloring. 



It is herbaceous. As soon as the frost 

 has injured the foliage, the rhizomes, for 

 they are more that than tubers, should 

 be lifted and laid out on some elry, warm 

 bench till the leaves have dried up. Then 

 they should be stored away in dry sand 

 in some position where drip cannot reach 

 and where the temperature does not go 

 below .50 degrees at any time. They are 

 by no means as easy to winter as Cala- 

 dium esculentum and should be occasicn- 

 ally examined and if, in January or 

 later, they are showing signs of decay, 

 it is better to start them growing at 

 once. 



When starting them into growth is the 

 time to increase your stock. A piece of 

 the root with a dormant bud can be 

 started in a flat of three inches of sand 

 and when growth has progressed put 

 into suitable sized pot, or you can pot 

 the roots at once into light, sandy soil, 

 but in eitlier case a gentle bottom heat is 

 necessary. 



They should not be planted out if useel 

 for siib-tropical gardening, till settled 

 warm weather, for they are a tropical 

 plant. A rich, friable, well drained soil 

 with plenty of water is what they want 

 during our warm, dry months. As a sub- 

 tropical bedding plant, I know no rival 

 to the beautiful Alocasia illustris. 



William Scott. 



PANDANUS AS A TABLE PLANT. 



In Pandanus Veitchii we have an ideal 

 plant for table work, that is, if properly 

 colored leaves are to be had. I would 

 deviate from the usual method of propa- 

 gating this, which is generally in a close 

 and warm case in the stove. First, ob- 

 tain good-colored offsets or suckers;, in- 

 sert these in thumb-pots of sand, and 

 place on a shelf in the stove house. You 

 will find that the general routine of the 

 stove will afford sufficient moisture for 



