Febbcabi 19, 1903. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



475 



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THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



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BASKETS OF ORCHIDS. 



The aecoiupaiiying engravings are 

 from photographs of the baskets Oif or- 

 chids entered in competition at the last 

 exhibition of the Horticultural Society 

 of Chicago. 



The one arranged by Mr. Uihlein's 

 gardener contained a large variety of 

 species and was a remarkably beautiful 

 basket. Of course it would be very dif- 

 ficult for a florist to secure such a splen- 

 did variety and effect such a beautiful 

 combination. 



The cattleya basket contained C. Per- 

 civaliana among fronds of Adiantum 

 Farleyense. It was very rich in efiect. 



The basket of cypripediuitis and mign- 

 onette was a beautiful harmony in color. 

 We heard the arrangement criticised be- 

 cause some of the cj'pripediums were 

 placed upside down, but don't see how 

 the lower ones could very well have been 

 placed otherwise with effect. The back 

 of a cypripedium is not particularly dec- 

 orative and that is what would have l^een 

 presented to view had the flowers been 

 carried down the side of the basket and 

 still kept right side up. We would be 

 glad to have suggestions from others re- 

 garding the placing of the flowers in this 

 Liasket. 



ROSES. 



Seasonable Hints. 



Kaiserins wliich are wanted to blooiii 

 during summer and fall should now br 

 planted. As a summer bloomer there is 

 no white rose superior to it and if well 

 liandled will produce perfect blooms witli 

 jiurfect stems by June. They require 

 a very rich compost, richer than Bride 

 (jr Bridesmaids, with a very generous 

 addition of bone flour. 



The growth being rapid and of a vcr> 

 soft character is very susceptible to in- 

 sect attacks, particularly red spider. To 

 keep these in subjection the syringe will 

 have to be used freely and ample venli- 

 lation given on all favorable occasions. 



Wlien the real hot weather eommi'ncc^ 

 the benclies .sliould receive a rich nuikh- 

 ing. which can lie spread alxmt one if.'' 

 in thickness. This should be repeated 

 at intervals of six weeks, and as these 

 roses are heavy feeders an application 

 of manure water between mulchings v.ill 

 greatly improve the quality of both L^teni 

 and flower. 



The buds of this rose when used as a 

 summer bloomer should be cut when tlic\ 

 are tight, as if they are allowed to fuiiy 

 open on the plant they are entirely u-c 

 less for shipping. 



In order to secure a good future crop 

 three eyes witli fully developed leaves 

 should be left on the stem, as they are 

 sometimes rather shy in producing canes 

 for a second crop if cut too close to the 

 old wood. 



Great care should be exercised in pack- 

 ing the buds, for owing to the softness 



and peculiar outward curve of the petals 

 they are easily bruised. 



A temperature of 62 to 64 degrees at 

 night, rising to 76 or 78 degrees during 

 sunshine, suits them admirably, though 

 they can be made to produce good blooms 

 at a much lower temperature, but at 

 considerable sacrifice in quantity. 



To make a successful planting the soil 

 must be in a nice, mellow condition, as 

 they will receive a decided check if 

 planted in soil that is cold and wet. As 

 it is hard to get soil in this condition 

 (unless from a soil shed) the soil should 

 be left on the benches for a day or t\\o 

 and worked over until it attains the con- 

 dition required. 



The plants should be planted just deep 

 enough to cover the ball, which should ije 

 disturbed as little as possible. The first 



to as the days get warmer and the plants 

 more vigorous. 



Keeping a careful outlook for insect 

 pests and mildew and checking these at 

 the outset will result in clean foliage, 

 vigorous growth and consequently iiigh 

 ffi-ade blooms. Bides. 



CYCLAMEN. 



Under separate cover I mail you some 

 cyclamen leaves. The seed was sown last 

 Maj-. They are now in 4-inch pots. Tliey 

 have never produced perfect flowers or 

 leaves. Pots are partly filled with broken 

 crocks and brick, ^vith sprinkling of 

 coarse brickdust on top. Tliey have been 

 kept in temperature of 50 to 60 degrees 

 and have been that way for the last four 

 months. Can you say what is the mat- 

 ter with the leaves? Also what is the 

 best soil for cyclamen? Gardener. 



AVhen the leaves arrived they were 

 much wilted, and excepting that they 

 were very thin and lacked substance, I 

 could see nothing very wrong about 

 them. Just now I will merely say that 

 the month of May is the very poorest 

 time to sow cyclamen. From September 

 to New Year's is the sowing season. They 

 are subject to aphis and thrips and are 

 easily ruined if allowed to severely dry 



Basket of Orchids in Variety, Arranged by Gardener for E. G. Uihlein, Chicago. 



watering should be done slowly and the 

 soil surrounding the ball thoroughly 

 moistened. 



Houses which have been rested for tlie 

 winter should now be started, pruning 

 out all small and superfluous wood and 

 removing all ripe and decaying leaves. 

 The soil should then get a tliorouch 

 drenching and the temperature raised 

 gradually as the eyes break u,iid the 

 leaves develop until the normal condi- 

 tion is reached. As soon as the eyes 

 have broken a light mulch of rich ma- 

 terial should be given. This can be added 



out when growing. Any good loam with 

 a third of real leaf-mold is a suitable 

 soil. If the loam is stiff, add a twenti- 

 eth of old mortar sifted finely. I have 

 been rather successful in growing a few 

 hundred cyclamen the past summer. The 

 last few days have had them photo- 

 graphed and' shall send the picture to 

 the Eevie-w, with a story of just how 

 they were treated from the time the seed 

 went into the soil uutil they bloomed, 

 and that will I)e a better help to Gar- 

 dener than anything I can say now. 



William Scott. 



