January 23, .1909 



HORTICULTUtti: 



97 



Selenepedium grande 

 ginata 



albo- 



mar- 



watered with weak liquid manure (one quart of undilut- 

 ed manure water to three gallons of clear water). 



Somebody might ask how strong the undiluted man- 

 ure water is. In a barrel (60 gallon gasolene) I put 

 two pailsfuU of cow manure and a 6-inch pot full of 

 Clay's Fertilizer ; then fill up with water obtained from 

 a catch-basin into which the drainage from the horse 

 stables runs. This water seems to be very rich in am- 

 monia. What ever there is in it, the plants like it and 

 soon pay for the extra trouble taken. I have used this 

 manure water on all my orchids for the last six years 

 with good results and if time permitted me should use 

 it still more extensively. 



Naugatuck, Conn. 



The subject of the illustration is a fine variety of 

 Selenepedium grande, differing from the type in being 

 of a lighter shade of color and by the white n;argin of 

 the dorsal sepal and the petals. Among the many vari- 

 eties and hybrids of Selenepediuras, S. grande is one of 

 the best if not the best, and one can't help but admire 

 it when seen in bloom. Some of the Selenepediums 

 have the habit of dropping one flower as soon as the 

 next one on the scape is opening, but in this variety the 

 individual flowers remain on the scape much longer and 

 frequently three or four flowers will be open at one time 

 on the same scape which makes the plant more desir- 

 able. 



Selenepediums like to grow in a house where the 

 temperature does not go below 60 deg. at night in win- 

 ter with a rise of 10 to 30 deg. through the day, accord- 

 ing to the weather. I like to grow them in the warmest 

 corner of the house; there they will always be on the 

 move, either growing or flowering and for that reason 

 will at all times require plenty of moisture at the root 

 and a spraying overhead in bright weather will do no 

 harm to most varieties, except S. caudatum, S. longifol- 

 ium and their hybrids. These latter seem to like a dryer 

 and somewhat cooler atmosphere. 



Osmunda fibre is evidently the best compost to grow 

 them in on account of its open nature and lasting qual- 

 ity. Plenty of drainage must be provided and the pots 

 should be so placed that the air can freely circulate 

 among the roots. About once a week the plants are 



Pruning Peaches 



In the peach house, pruning is one of the most im- 

 portant operations. To have the proper fruiting wood 

 for this year's crop depends upon whether the trees were 

 properly cared for the past year when disbudding was 

 done and the proper training depends upon how the new 

 wood was tied in. A perfectly trained tree can only be 

 secured by great care in the first training and pruning. 

 All of the strong and rank growth must be taken oS 

 unless it is needed to form the shape desired. Cut ofif 

 the wood that fruited last year when possible and leave 

 the bottom new wood to take its place. 



When peaches are in flower all the air possible should 

 be given; keep the atmosphere dry. To ensure fertiliz- 

 ation some gardeners put a hive of bees into the house 

 when the trees are in flower, with great success. If 

 this is done it is well to have an opening on the outside 

 of the house so they can get back to their hive if they 

 should get out of the ventilator, which they will nat- 

 urally do if the day is warm. Wlien the peaches are in 

 full bloom the outside entrance could be closed up for a 

 few hours and make them all come out into the house. 

 Others use a camel's hair brush to distribute the pollen. 

 I prefer tapping the trees with my hand, to dislodge 

 the pollen, three or four times a day; this must be done 

 when the house has ventilation on, or dried up with 

 fire heat. 



Wlien the fruit is set and the growth starting give 

 them a good syringing every bright morning and in 

 the afternoon on bright days when closing the house 

 up. This should be done early, so they can dry up 

 before sunset. A good watering should be given as 

 soon as the frait is set for now root action has started. 

 This should be done with the chill taken off. The best 

 and easiest way I have found is to have a faucet attached 

 to the hot water pipe and run the water into a barrel, 

 then use a Kinney pump to syphon the hot water from 

 the can and water through the hose. This should be 

 done early in the morning while the water is good and 

 hot. 



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