204 



TEE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[July, 



told," until after standing for twenty-four hours, 

 or less time perhaps, each tiny leaf, every 

 feathery spray, the crimson of the gorgeous 

 foliage plants, and soft velvety petals of the blos- 

 soms, have become — encrusted with a glittering 

 coat of diamonds — drained and festooned with 

 tiny ropes of shimmering spangles — gemmed and 

 studded with sparkling jewels, and opalescent 

 pearls in the form of hundreds of minute air- 

 bubbles, so iridescent and transparent that every 

 shade and tint of the rainbow is reflected ; and 

 the star-like incrustations give the bouquet the 

 appearance of some wonderful piece of fairy- 

 work, arising from a sylvan grotto covered with 

 white frosty gems, far more brilliant than any 

 cut and polished by human hands. 



This wonderfully beautiful object is well-suited 

 for adorning the sick-room, where flowers are 

 generally so acceptable, yet frequently inappro- 

 priate on account of the odor ; but for table 

 decoiation it is specially elegant, and capable of 

 surprisingly beautiful effects. Thus we have 

 seen a most imposing supper-table epergne ar- 

 ranged thus ; an unusually successful aquatic 

 bouquet, filled a shade eighteen inches in height, 

 placed on a moss-covered stand, one foot in 

 height, around which were four gold-fish globes, of 

 the half gallon size ; arranged in the same manner, 

 but with only white flowers; below these was a cir- 

 cle of white cut-glass, finger glasses, alternated 

 with small shades, only six inches in diameter, 

 with bright flowers in the one, and only ferns in 

 the other ; as an edging, a circle of plain, cut-glass 

 tumblers, each containing four rose-buds of many 

 varieties surrounded by moss. Each dish was sur- 

 rounded by shells, stones, and delicate vines, and 

 having been constructed the day previous, it was 

 by the following evening in that perfect state of 

 frosty loveliness that is the greatest charm of 

 these exquisite creations. The magnifying power 

 of the globes and round shades is also another 

 special wonder in these beautiful arrangements, 

 so that very small blossoms appear quadrupled 

 in size. They will continue perfect for four or 

 fire days in summer, and from six to nine in 

 winter. Sea-weed also is charming arranged in 

 this manner with a shell to anchor them. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Odontoglossum cirrhosum. — New orchideous 

 planta continue to be introduced, — adding to the 

 rariety and interest of collections, but seldom 



surprising by rare beavity. The subject of this 

 paragraph, as well as Odontoglossum Alexandrse, 

 are exceptions to thi.s; of the former, a recent 

 Gardener's Chronicle saj's : "A plant of this ex- 

 tremely handsome new introduction has just 

 flowered for the first time, and was exhibited at 

 the Royal Horticultural Society's Meeting on 

 Wednesday, the 5th inst., when it elicited un- 

 usual admiration, and was unanimously awarded 

 the First-class Certificate it so justly merited. 

 The flower-spikes are branched, bearing from 

 twenty to thirty pure white, purple-spotted 

 flowers ; the sepals and petals have undulated 

 margins, and their apices are drawn into long 

 tapering points. The lip is yellow at the base, 

 boldly streaked with rich dark brown, and the 

 crest is whitish and two-lobed. The flowers 

 may be likened to those of ' na^vium,' but are 

 fully three times larger than those of that spe- 

 cies." 



Kalmias for Winter Blooming. — The following 

 hint from the Gardener's Chronicle may be of 

 value to our " winter bloomei's:" "One of the 

 best hardy plants for forcing is Kalmia latifolia. 

 Plants should be selected well filled with buds, 

 and potted up in the ordinary way, and brought 

 on in heat. Not only do the plants flower with 

 great freedom, but they remain for a long time 

 in bloom, and the cultivator can " cut-and-come- 

 again " in a liberal manner. When associated 

 with Rhododendrons, American Azaleas, and 

 other plants in a warm greenhouse, the Kalmia 

 has a very pleasing effect." 



And here is another hint from the same source : 

 "The Sweet Briar can be forced in order to 

 have its young growths for use at this season of 

 the year. We recently saw some plants that had 

 been raised from seed, and forced the winter fol- 

 lowing the second year. The plants should be 

 planted out in the open ground during sum- 

 mer, and lifted in October and November and 

 potted in medium-sized pots, and placed in a 

 warm greenhouse. During March and April an 

 abundance of young shoots will repay the labors 

 of the cultivator." 



Money Value of Orchids. — To show the value 

 of orchids we give the following from the Gar- 

 dener's Chronicle, advertised as " unprecedently 

 low prices : " — " Pleione humilis, good flowering 

 bulbs, 3s. 6d. each ; if a dozen are taken, 3s. each ; 

 if 50 are taken, 2s. 6(^. each : a dozen would 

 make a good specimen. The usual price of this 

 hitherto rare Orchid has b^en 2 guineas each. 



