January 19, 1906 



HORTICULTURE 



57 



Anthuriums 



Aroidcoiis plants are a prominent feature in tropi- 

 cal vegetation and naturally have found a large place 

 amongst cultivated plants; they have suffered, hov^ever, 

 from that comparative neglect which has overtaken old- 

 fashioned stove plants, due partly to the heavy cost of 

 fuel and the demand for specialized plants of service- 

 able value, which admit of cooler treatment. 



Alocasias, caladiums and many others in this impor- 

 tant group are certainly of a very fragile character, 

 hardly adaptable for the ordinary rough experiences of 

 €xliibitive life; anthuriums on the other hand, with a 

 more robust constittTtion are specially fitted for con- 

 servatory and outside purposes. Many of the green 

 foliage varieties will stand with advantage a much 

 cooler treatment than is usually given; these have a 

 preference for a cold bottom stage and thrive in an in- 

 termediate temperature. The variegated varieties such 

 as Warocqueanum and crystallinum require much 

 ■warmer treatment and more careful watering, especially 

 in winter. 



They all respond to rich culture and it is only in 

 fully developed specimens or in grouped masses planted 

 ■out that their decorative value is brought out; a well 

 grown plant of A. Veitchii with its elephant ear-like 

 leaves, often 6 ft. in length, is a truly noble subject and 

 gives distinction to any mixed group. A. Scherzeri- 

 anum, known as the Flamingo plant, ^vith its greatly 

 improved varieties, is perhaps the most popular of the 

 section; its bright spathes show up splendidly by elec- 

 tric light. A. Andreanum, always a favorite, has also 

 been immensely imf)roved. Atro-sanguincum, a deep 

 brilliant crimson, is specially fine ancj a much larger 

 spathe than the type and ornamented with a golden 

 yellow spadix, shiping as if varnished. Album is a 

 counterpart of the type with shining ivory white 

 spathes. Eoseum, a ro.sy pink with a tri-colored spadix, 

 the base being white, the centre golden, the tips green. 

 The numerous large leaved varieties, such as Ferrier- 

 •ense and eburneum, though fine as specimens where 

 room is no objection, are not to be compared with the 

 types above mentioned in beauty and general usefulness. 

 If symmetrical plants are desired they must have am- 

 ple space and be constantly turned round and kept 

 clean, each leaf being neatly staked in position; the 

 flower stalks should also be tied to thin green-painted 

 stakes, immediately the spathes unfold. For the pro- 

 duction of large foliage and superior spathes there is 

 nothing finer than dried cow dung mixed with sphag- 

 nimi moss and tied in a neat sloping mound up the 

 stem, supplementing this with a weekly watering of 

 liquid manure during growtli. The general compost 

 should be of a turfy character; the green-leaf varieties 

 prefer a larger amount of loam and the variegated ones 

 soil of a pasty nature with charcoal, sand, moss and 

 good drainage; they take a shaded position, ample 

 syringing during growth with plenty of water at the 



roots. It is interesting to note in this connection how 

 the leaves of this class are adapted with a broad surface 

 to catch the water, carrying it in a circle round the 

 plant where the absorbent parts of the roots are in a 

 state of nature. They are easily propagated and seed 

 freely, which is often the result of insects walking over 

 the microscopic flowers on the spadix; old plants may 

 be cut down and the stump will yield a goodly number 

 of suitable cuttings for years to come. In commending 

 anthuriums to a more rich and careful culture, it may 

 be said they are worth doing well ; the fresh leaves are 

 decidedly ornamental, the spathes last from two to 

 thred months on the plants and five or six weeks when 

 cut if kept in water. The whole group bear their beau- 

 tiful spathes in the dull winter time and onward to the 

 end of August. 



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Potash for Carnations 



Editor Horticulture: 



Dear Sir — I would like to ask some questions. You 

 say that carbonate of potash is good for carnations. 

 Wliat proportion do you use in a gallon of water or 

 can it be used in powder form sprinkled on soil? If 

 so, how much to a square foot ? Please answer through 

 your paper. 



Yours truly, X. 



Potash is good for carnations. The form that it is 

 in, whether carbonate, muriate or sulphate, makes but 

 little difference to the plant. The sulphate of potash, 

 liowever, seems to give slightly better results on most 

 plants. Sulphate and muriate of potash can be readily 

 secured, as tliey are on the market as fertilizing mate- 

 rial. The carbonate of potash is not readily secured, 

 as it is not generally used as a fertilizer and its cost 

 would be out of all proportion to its fertilizer value. 



The salts of potash are soluble in water and thus 

 lend themselves readily to application in liquid form. 

 If this form of application is desired use from 1-4 to 

 1-2 pound of the salt to 50 gallons of water (approxi- 

 mately a barrel) and apply to 100 sq. ft. of bench sur- 

 face. If desired the potash salt can be added to the 

 ordinary liquid manure, at the rate of 1-4 pound to 50 

 gallons of the Hquid and apply to 100 sq. ft. of bench. 

 These applications can be repeated every ten days or 

 two weeks to rapidly growing plants. You can use the 

 potash salt in the dry or powdered form if so desired. 

 Use the same amount as in liquid apphcation, 1-4 to 

 1-2 pound to 100 sq. ft. of bench area and scratch in. 

 Care should be taken to get an even spreading over the 



entire area. 



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