1882.1 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



105 



flower spikes soon to bloom. I have not suc- 

 ceeded in bloonnng O. nebulosum. All the 

 Trichopilia suavis I have seen were either 

 touched with frost before arrival and subsequently 

 perished, or excessively dry. The latter are now 

 coming out well, thanks to good care and gener- 

 ous treatment. It is perfectly wonderful what a 

 drying and wasting away some of these epiphytes 

 can survive. There are said to be two varieties 

 of Trichopilia tortilis, and I supposed I had both 

 the summer and the winter blooming varieties ; 

 but I find that by the same treatment the plants 

 that bloomed for the past two summers are in 

 bloom this winter also, and I conclude the differ- 

 ence is only due to the date of importation. 

 Some varieties are more distinctly marked than 

 others, however. 



LUCULIA CRATISSIMA. 



BY A. J. E., SOUTH AMBOY, N. J. 



This beautiful plant is worthy of a place in 

 every collection however small it may be. None 

 but those who have seen a specimen can form 

 any idea of its beauty, when covered with its 

 immense Hydrangea-like trusses of rosy pink 

 flowers, as fragrant as a Heliotrope ; in fact it 

 fills a whole house with its perfume. There is 

 in Mr. Geo. Such's Camellia house, South Am- 

 boy, N. J., a magnificent specimen planted out 

 amongst the camellias. All those who saw this 

 plant just before Christmas will forever think of 

 its beauty. It lasts for several weeks in bloom, 

 and is in great demand by the florists, which 

 makes it more valuable, at that season of the year 

 especially. Why is it that this plant is neglected 

 so long when it is without doubt on« of the finest 

 plants in cultivation, and so easily grown when 

 planted out? 



CULTIVATION OF EUCHARIS. 



BY W. RHIND, CANANDAIGUA, NEW YORK. 



For the third time 1 have succeeded in flower- 

 ing this valuable plant in greenhouse tempera- 

 ture, and as many persons own it who only have 

 a greenhouse, with your consent, Mr. Editor, I 

 shall briefly state how I do it. 



About the end of March I shake all the soil off" 

 the plants, preserving the roots as well as possi- 

 ble, place an inch of drainage in large pots, 

 covering with some rough material — tobacco 

 stems suit well. Grasp as many of the bulbs 

 by the leave.* as the pot will hold, each clear of 



the next a fourth of an inch, then work the soil 

 in among the roots, tapping the pot on the bench 

 as the work proceeds ; by so doing the soil is 

 made firm about the roots without the pound- 

 ing-stick, which in this case would break the 

 roots. Common potting soil is used, as rich 

 compost will rot the roots before they commence 

 growing. Three stakes are placed around the 

 plant, on these a string to support the leaves ; 

 water with warm water, and the operation is 

 completed. Pots of any size may be used, from 

 six inches up. After they get fairly to growing 

 use liquid manure freely until the end of August ; 

 by that time they should have made the season's 

 growth. Rest them by withholding water, only 

 giving enough to keep from wilting. In a month 

 or six weeks they will send up their flower stems ; 

 then resume with liquid manure while the 

 flowers last, afterwards watering sparingly. The 

 growth of young leaves Avill surely damp away 

 at a temperature of 45°. The foliage must be 

 kept clean at all times by the frequent use of 

 the syringe in summer and the sponge in winter.. 



MEDINILLA MACNIFICA. 



BY JAMES TAPLIN, MA-SWOOD, N. J. 



This fine growing Melastomaceous plant, being 

 a native of the hottest part of the world, requires 

 a very strong heat at all times and also liberal 

 feeding. It can either be grown in a mixture of 

 peat and loam, or a good turfy loam, with some 

 well-decayed manure. The main fault is that it 

 makes too large a plant for a reasonable sized 

 house in a short time, as a plant from a cutting 

 will be six feet or more through in one season. 

 It requires abundance of water during the sum- 

 mer, both overhead and at the root, with plet*y 

 of potroom in the growing season, and in the 

 winter just water enough to prevent the foliage 

 turning yellow. With plenty of heat and light 

 it will show blooms at every joint. If sufficient 

 room is available it may be cut in after flower- 

 ing, the ball may be reduced, and it may be re- 

 potted in the same sized pot and treated as 

 before, but every cutting will strike in a strong 

 heat; in fact, every eye will strike, which is 

 probably the best way to grow it in a limited 

 space, it being one of the strongest and freest 

 growing plants in existence where a strong heat 

 can be maintained. 



jq^OTE.— Trichopilia suavis and T. tortilis are 

 best grown in pots, in a mixture of sphagnum 

 and peat, in a house ranging from 50° to 60° in 



