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THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[May, 



COMMUNICA TIONS. 



THE GERMAN METHOD OF PRESERVING 

 FLOWERS. 



BV T. T. S., IIOCHKSTER, N. Y. 



I observe that a lady correspondent in the 

 March number complains she cannot succeed 

 in making things bloom with the German 

 method of submersion in chemically prepared 

 water. The ladies of my household have no 

 trouble in producing bloom on apple and other 

 free-blooming things by the following very sim- 

 ple plan. They place the apple twigs or what 

 ever they desire to bloom in clear glass vases, 

 and place the vases where they will get a great 

 deal of sunshine, as in a bay window. Apple 

 twigs cut about March 1st, are just about ready 

 to burst into bloom at this date, (March 18th). 

 The vases are kept filled with rain water only. 

 I have paid no particular attention to the mat- 

 ter, but think the bright sunshine is quite an 

 important part of the experiment, as they failed 

 last year when they attempted to bloom apple, 

 and in a dark but warmer room. 



FORCING LILIUM CANDIDUM. 



BY FLETCHER WILLIAMS, NEWARK, N. Y. 



In answer to the enquiry of S. F. T., in March 

 number of Gardener's Monthly. Lilium 

 candidum treated as a greenhouse plant is an 

 object of great beauty. It blooms early and 

 naturally, and with less care than most green- 

 house plants. But to grow it successfully it is 

 necessary to pot it as soon as the summer 

 blooming is over, and the foliage begins to turn 

 yellow, then give it a pot of generous size with 

 any good fresh soil. It makes a fall growth of 

 radical leaves like a strawberry plant, and to 

 grow it well, it only requires to be potted early, 

 as I have said, so that this fall growth is per- 

 fected while in the pot. Perhaps it is not 

 necessary to add that it is this fall growth that 

 prepares roots and perfects the flower buds for 

 the next season. Its fragrance, purity of color, 

 and stateliness of aspect, make it one of the 

 most desirable plants for the greenhouse or 

 window gardening. 



ORCHIDS AT BALTIMORE. 



BY A LOVER OF ORCHIDS. 



Having half a day at my disposal while at 

 Baltimore the past week, I availed myself of 

 the opportunity of visiting the orchid-houses of 

 Capt. Chas. H. Snow, at Edge wood. They are 



not large, and are heated by means of small 

 copper boilers ; one of sufficient capacity for 

 each liouse, — the least expensive mode of heat- 

 ing with hot water I had ever seen. One of the 

 houses is partially below the surface of the 

 ground, the other upon a side-hill, adding 

 thereby to their warmth in Winter, and cool- 

 ness in Summer, and at all times increasing the 

 humidity of the atmosphere, which, with proper 

 ventilation is such a necessary requisite to suc- 

 cessful orchid culture. I had not before seen 

 other than the most expensive houses con- 

 structed for growing amateur collections of 

 these beautiful plants, and I was therefore sur- 

 prised at the great success Capt. Snow has at- 

 tained in these cheaper structures. They were 

 full to overflowing with a grand display of these 

 floral gems. Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Lselias, 

 Lycastes, Odontoglossums, etc., a sight one can 

 seldom witness in this country. Capt. S. has 

 made the cultivation of Orchids a study, not 

 merely from books, but from the actual care of 

 the plants. He can give you the name of each 

 particular variety, its former habitat and mode 

 of growth, and, what is wonderful to one inex- 

 perienced, can tell them all by their foliage, 

 often almost identical. He knows the treat- 

 ment each requires, and when it should rest, 

 and when be started into growth again, and 

 when it will bloom. He has but few East In- 

 dian Orchids in his collection, having devoted 

 his attention chiefly to those from this continent 

 especially South America, but had a fine display 

 of Dendrobiums Pierardii, and others in bloom. 

 I also saw a small plant of Odontoglossum 

 crispum, newly imported, opening for the first 

 time, exceedingly delicate and beautiful. Cat- 

 tleya Aclandiae, so rich and so difficult to grow, 

 and so shy of bloom, not to mention a row of 

 Lycaste Skinneri which charmed the beholder 

 more than all the others, and had been scarcely 

 a year in his possession. 



From his articles in the Gardener's Month- 

 ly, I was aware he must have a great love for 

 practical floriculture, but when I saw what 

 results can be attained by a little time, care, 

 and patience, and at very moderate expense, I 

 was convinced that Orchid cultivation in the 

 United States can be made as successful as in 

 England, and at far less cost ; and I believe 

 the time is not .far distant when a fine Orchid in 

 bloom will not be the rare sight it now is, or a 

 small collection of these curious plants the ex- 

 clusive property of the wealthy few. 



