May 1, 1909 



H O R T 1 C U L T U R E 



631 



relative values of these varieties men- 

 tioned, it is necessary tliat tlie subject- 

 be considered from all sides. While 

 there is a difference in the productive- 

 ness of several varieties there are also 

 facts to be taken into consideration 

 before deciding which is the most 

 profitable. While Killarney will not 

 produce as heavily as Bridesmaids the 

 higher percentage of No. 1 grade and 

 better with no No. 3 at all which are 

 cut from Killarney gives this sort the 

 advantage at once. And so it is with all 

 the varieties. To make sure which 

 are the best paying ones a record must 

 be kept of the cuts, prices and grade 

 of blooms. 



In cnclusion I would say that I be- 

 lieve Killarney ranks first, Bridesmaid 

 and Bride next in order named with a 

 possibility I hat Richmond may come 

 in close tc 1-iidesmaid. 



CARNATION SHASTA. 



Shasta is the result from a pink 

 seedling crossed with Enchantress. 

 The color is pure glistening white. 



always. The flower is round, moder- 

 ately fringed and built up nicely in 

 the centre. In size it runs from 3 to 

 31/2 inches. Messrs. Baur & Smith 

 say that the calyx never splits. The 

 stem is of good length and always 

 supports the bloom upright as the pic- 

 ture shows. The growth is strong, 

 healthy and upright. It keeps well 

 and travels fine. Its earliness, free- 

 dom in blooming and freedom from 

 any tendency to crop warrant high 

 hopes as to its future. Messrs. Pat- 

 ten & Co. of Tewksbury will grow 

 part of the stock and will assist in 

 disseminating Shasta next season. 



An inquest was held at Dover last 

 week on a boy named Piper, aged 13, 

 who had died in great agony from 

 tetanus which had been developed, ac- 

 cording to the medical testimony, as a 

 result of a pricked hand which the lad 

 had sustained through slipping on to 

 a gooseberry bush when jumping over 

 a fence. Tbe doctor stated that the 

 chances were a million to one against 

 tetanus occurring from such a mishap. 

 — Markit CJrnircis' Qazctle. 



PHALAENOPSIS SCHILLERIANA. 



We take the following from an 

 article on the cultivation of Phalaen- 

 opsis Schilleriana, appearing on April 

 3, in the "Gartenwelt." According tJ 

 the writer, a head gardener at Pots- 

 dam, R. Blassteld by name, the im- 

 portation of the plant, is in spite oE 

 all precautions still a venturesome 

 business. In the past, when Ph. S:^hil- 

 leriana could be found in abundance 

 in its native habitats, large quantities 

 arrived in Europe in a dead state. 

 Meanwhile the collecting of the plant 

 is considerably more costly, and net 

 so remunerative, the plants not being 

 found in districts readily accessible. 

 On this ground, efforts have been made 

 to lessen the chances of loss of plants 

 by fastening them on wooden laths 

 with the leaves hanging downwards 

 and stuffing palm fibre between the 

 plants, hindering the lodgement of 

 moisture in the hearts of the plants, 

 which in non-established condition 

 means the death of the plants. The 

 plants remain in their home for one 

 year, bound to the laths or block, and 

 are as well cultivated as is possible; 

 and then having become attache;l to 

 these, they are fastened into suitable 

 chests and forwarded to their destina- 

 tion. 



When the plants arrive at the end of 

 the Journey they are brought into a 

 cool, dry house and gradually inured 

 to light, warmth and moisture. The 

 sprinkling of the plants is avoided 

 during the first few weeks so as to 

 prevent loss of the leaves. When the 

 roots begin to show signs of life they 

 are carefully loosened with the blad' 

 of a knife from the wood and pla ve 1 

 in orchid baskets of the usual kind, 

 or in earthenware pans, which ha ,e 

 holes near the rim by which they may 

 be suspended. The material placed 

 about the plants should consist of 

 quite freshly gathered sphagnum and 

 polypodiura roots, which in both cases 

 should be but slightly chopped, and a 

 small quantity of charcoal. The great- 

 est care should be taken in arrangiiig 

 the roots in the pans or baskets. Thj 

 base of a plant should be placed 12 

 cm. above the surface of the p.in or 

 basket, and quite free, so that no dan- 

 ger of decay can occur, as is often the 

 case in a night — a misfortune which 

 is feared generally, and the causes of 

 which remain scientifically unknown 

 at the present time. A layer of fresh 

 moss should be laid over all, and the 

 plant hung in the most suitable part 

 of the house; otherwise the roots at- 

 tach themselves so firmly to the stag- 

 ing that it is impossible to remove 

 them by later repanning, etc.; and their 

 loss may easily i esult in that of the 

 leaves. For a time, after the transfer- 

 ence of the plants to new baskets and 

 pans the house should be kept at a 

 temperature of 68 degrees to 71 degrees 

 Fahr., shaded and moist, and water ap- 

 plied from above, quite 1 ightly, and 

 with a syringe. With increase of root- 

 ing, increase by degrees the amount of 

 water applied and admit more sun- 

 heat, but always moist and buoyant. 

 Ventilation should be very moderate. 

 In sunny weather the leaves may be 

 plentifully syringed in the morning 

 hours. According to need the house 

 must be shaded, but the marbling of 

 the leaves becomes more distinct with 

 the admission of sunlight. 



FREDERICK MOORE. 



ARBOR-VITAE MONUMENTALIS. 



This new and distinct arbor-vitae 

 was found growing among a lot Of 

 American and pyramidal arbor-vitae 

 seedlings in Illinois some fifteen years 

 ago. It soon attracted attention by its 

 distinct habit of growth and its rich 

 dark green color. Each succeeding 

 , year's gi-owth has added to its beauty 

 and it is now a superb specimen six- 

 teen feet high. The half-tone gives a 

 fair idea of the appearance of the 

 original tree, but shows it more 

 pointed than it is, on account of photo- 

 graph being taken on a windy day. 

 Its habit of growth is the most upright 

 of all arbor-vitae, forming without 



shearing, almost a perfect column, the 

 diameter continuing the same until 

 near the top of the tree. With slight 

 shearing they form the most perfect 

 columns of living green. The foliage 

 is fine and soft, borne on slender, wiry 

 stems, which gives it an elegant plume 

 like appearance, never stiff and rigid 

 as in other compact sorts. The soft 

 foliage gives the tree a graceful wave- 

 like effect which adds much to its 

 beauty. The rich dark shade of green 

 is retained during winter, the trees 

 never turning brownish or yellow as do 

 other varieties. It is practically seed- 

 less, rarely showing any of the objec- 

 tionable seed pods and Is fully as 

 hardy as the American arbor-vitae. A 

 very fine variety for growing in tubs 

 for decorative purposes. 



MARTIN LEWIS BENSON. 



