548 



HORTICULTURE 



April 28, 1906 



irted plants are preferable to begin with; being 

 full of native vigor, they come away strongly. Then, 

 bere is always the possibility of a pure white form 

 turning up and white forms with only a dash of yellow 

 in the throat are not uncommon. It has frequently 

 been charged against Wardianum, that it rapidly deteri- 

 orates after three years, but if a somewhat cooler treat- 

 ment than is usually given be adopted, coupled with 

 severing the back bulbs, leaving only from three to four 

 for each lead, a new lease of life will be given provided 

 other conditions are favorable. Wardianum delights in 

 a light position and after growth and roots are fairly 

 started will take copious supplies of water; a severe 

 drying out when growing will certainly result in 

 deformed or smaller blooms. A weekly dip in weak 

 cow-manure when the bulbs are filling out will be bene- 

 ficial; after growth is fully ripened water should be 

 gradually withheld and plants removed to cooler 

 winter-resting quarters, restarting them again in inter- 

 mediate house when flower buds appear. Growth will 

 often start too early even in a cool dry place, but water 

 should not be given on this account. 



D. nobile is well known as an old and floriferous 

 kind, but there are now many superior varieties of the 

 type Sanderiana. nobilius, Cooksonii, etc., besides the 

 numerous hybrids which claim it as one of the parents ; 

 they all require a slightly cooler treatment than Wardi- 

 anum, but not being of such a deciduous character 

 should not be so severely dried off as that varietv. 



D. Devonianum is of long, thin, reed-like growth, the 

 small finely fringed flowers being closely set on quite 

 2 ft. of stem; it is one of the most effective for exhibi- 

 tion purposes; the great secret of successful culture is a 

 light position in East Indian house with copious sup- 

 plies of water during growth, syringing frequently to 

 keep down red-spider to which it is specially liable. D. 

 Brymerianum is unique, with deep yellow flowers of ex- 

 quisite form with a remarkable beard-like lip; it is not 

 eery free but often flowers appear on old growths. It 

 enjoys stove heat the year round, with very little com- 

 post, and a careful watering as it does not make roots 

 freely. D. crassinode may be described as a dwarf 

 Wardianum and rivals that lovely variety in flower but 

 the flowers are smaller. 



D. Faleonerii is distinct and of grassy growth which 

 forms a thick mass of knotty pseudo-bulbs and is one of 

 the few dendrobiunis that may he successfully grown on 

 blocks or tree ferns; the hottest place in the East Indian 

 house suits it well, with frequent syringing of the asrial 

 growth. It is not an easy subject but is very beautiful, 

 much like Wardianum with a richer color in the throat. 



I). thyTsiflorum requires intermediate temperature; 

 its large grape-like clusters of cream and yellow flowers 

 are freely produced on old and new growths; the bulbs 

 being long and bulky it is mere adapted for pot culture 

 than baskets. I), aureum (syn. heterocarpum) is dis- 

 tinguished fur the sweet fragrance of its gulden yellow 

 flowers and though an eld introduction is not common: 

 of slighl growth ii is adapted for small pans. 



D Ainsworthii was one of the first garden hybrids 

 from nobile x aureum ami may be described as an 

 improved nobile with the fragrance of aureum. It is 

 ivonderfulh free and should be treated like nobile. D. 

 trdii i- .i very pretty species, flowers of a cream} 

 white. The growl h has a downward tendency and it 

 should be grown in baskets. 1>. Jamesianum is one of 

 few dendrobiums suitable for cool-house treat- 

 ment en well gn I white and yellow flowers 

 reely produced from tin apex of growths. 



As a general rule the smallest possible receptacles 



should be used ; using as compost chopped peat and 

 moss with a little leaf mould and sand; for pans only 

 a few crocks are needful, giving depth in order to firmly 

 tix the plants. The base of the bulbs should only be 

 tried for security, allowing the bulbs to droop naturally. 

 When flowering, a nice dry, cool, and shaded house 

 should be set apart, where their beauties may be com- 

 fort ablv enjoyed for a more extended period. 



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British Horticulture 



BULB CULTURE IN IRELAND 



An interesting collection of narcissi and daffodils 

 was staged at the Royal Horticultural Society's show on 

 April 3rd from the bulb farm belonging to Sir Joselyn 

 Gove. The farm is situated close to the seashore on the 

 borders of Sligo bay. Here within the last six years a 

 prosperous undertaking has been built up. Acres of 

 bulbs are cultivated, the fields lately being a magnifi- 

 cent sight. The owner claims to have one of the finest 

 collections of daffodils in the w-orld. He has secured 

 the entire stock of several new varieties including Acme, 

 which was brought out by the Rev. G. Engleheart. In 

 addition to supplying the bulbs large quantities of cut 

 bloom are despatched to market. A large number of 

 seedlings are being raised and several of these are likely 

 to prove a valuable addition to the existing varieties. 



AX ENGLISH CARNATION RAISER 



Increased attention is now being given by English 

 growers to raising new varieties of the winter-flowering 

 carnations. Amongst the number is A. Smith, a mar- 

 ket florist, whose establishment I visited a short time 

 ago. Mr. Smith secured in the same week a certificate 

 from the Royal Horticultural and the Royal Botanic 

 Societies for a new scarlet tree carnation, Brittania. 

 Mr. Smith will not be sending out any of the stock 

 until January. 1907. Another :>f Mr. Smith's introduc- 

 tions is Progress, a cerise tinted flower, which will be 

 sent out with Britannia. Others are Coronation, 

 which has smallish blooms of a pink tint and The 

 Dragon, a variegated carnation in a buff ground. 



THE FUTURE OUTLOOK 



In going through the houses I saw a useful batch of 

 Lawson and Enchantress, two of the most popular 

 market varieties now cultivated. Discussing the ques- 

 tion of carnation raising with Mr. Smith I found that 

 he was full of hope as to the future success of this 

 branch in England. 'T do not see why we cannot raise 

 as good varieties in England as in America," he con- 

 tended. "•The American varieties are grown under dif- 

 ferent conditions and very often do not succeed when 

 transferred to new surroundings on this side. The 

 American growers have the advantage over us in obtain- 

 ing a longer share of sunshine in the winter-time. The 

 tree carnations are greatly increasing in popularity." 

 As to the new Winter Flowering Carnation Society. Mr. 

 Smith considered that it was very necessary. "There 

 should lie a bod} of experts." he stated, "to grant cer- 

 tificates to the new introductions, which should be reg- 

 istered. This would prevent a number of worthless 

 varieties being- placed on the market. The trade would 

 also have -em,, confidence in sending their new varieties 

 before a committee .if specialists'." As regards the 

 recently formed society, I learn from Mr. Hayward 

 Mathias, the Honorable Secretary, that a meeting is to 



