952 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



SWEET PEAS FOR TABLE AXD OTHER DECORATION'S. 



Few flowers lend themselves so readily to the deco- 

 rator's art as does the fragrant Sweet Pea. They re- 

 quire no wiring or stiffening of the stem — once they are 

 cut, they are ready for the deft fingers to create charm- 

 ing effects for any purpose. 



Pretty effects may be had by associating two colors 

 that harmonize, though perhaps nothing is daintier than 

 a table decorated with one variety only — say, the beauti- 

 ful Countess Spencer. A lovely combination may be 

 obtained by using Barbara or Stirling Stent with Queen 

 X'ictoria Spencer or Primrose Spencer, or a crimson and 

 a yellow, and Orchid in conjunction with a rich cream 

 pink, and Illuminator with a rich primrose variety — all 

 form most charming color harmonies. Lavender and 

 blue Sweet Peas look dull under artificial light, though 

 very pleasing at other times. CJr, again, various shades 

 of pink, from light to dark, form a lieautiful color 

 scheme. 



In arranging the flowers let all Ix- as light and airy 

 looking as possible; never jam the sprays closely to- 

 gether; strive to let every flower be seen. .-Xllow a few 

 flowers to stand well above the others, which tends to 

 'give all a natural appearance. A few sprays of colored 

 lycopodium allowed to trail over the sides of the recep- 

 tacles and arranged on the table, or sprays of asparagus, 

 sniilax or other light greenery, all help the general ef- 

 fect, while light grasses and a little of their own foliage 

 inserted among the flowers will lend grace and elegance 

 to the arrangement — if not oi'crdonc. 



specimens can produce such gay flowers. The accom- 

 panying illustration is a oart of one of our orchid houses 

 showing a few of these dendrobes at their best. 



DENDROBIUM WARDIANUM. 



i'.V W. II. \\•AIII^^ 



There are many beautiful species among the dendro- 

 biums, and the subject of this note and illustration is 

 one of the best. It is a native of -Vssam, and was first 

 flowered in England in 1858. It is not very e.xacting in 

 its requirements and may be grown in almost any green- 

 house. During the growing season, which begins about 

 the time the flowers open, it enjoys a high tem]3erature 

 with an abundant supply of water. When the growth^ 

 are complete the ])lants should be moved to a cooler 

 temperature and the water gradually withheld, until the 

 flowers begin to appear. Hung up close to the glass. 

 allowing the full benefit of the fall sunshine to reach 

 them, ripen the long pseudo bulbs up well at this stage. 

 The plants are anything but decorative, and the wonder 

 (if the lavman is that such cimtorted. dried-up looking 



nKXIlKomi'M WARDIANl^M .\T CREVSTONK. VONKERS. \. V. 



CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



The perfect ripening of the wood of Chrysanthemums 

 which is to produce exhibition blooms is a subject little 

 understood by those who are taking up the culture of 

 these plants for the first time. Without maturation of 

 the stems perfect blooms cannot be obtained. The in- 

 curved section is more influenced by the proper or im- 

 proper maturation of the growth than any other section 

 of the whole family, owing to the different construction 

 of the blooms. There is a great difference between 

 blooms which are the result of properly-matured plants 

 and those not so. The object of all beginners should be 

 to aim at obtaining these two points. Many people con- 

 sider that if the plants throughout the summer season of 

 growth are exceptionally stout in the stems, having also 

 large, gross, green-looking leaves, they are certain to suc- 

 ceed in obtaining blooms of the highest possible quality. 

 There never was a greater mistake. Plants of this class 

 often produce only an apology for a bloom, which is sure 

 to bring disappointment. When exhibition is the main 

 object the cultivator has in view, the test of production is 

 more difficult, as there are many points which are neces- 

 sary in order to gain a leading position. The form the 

 flower has, the breadth of its petals, the color of the same, 

 the depth of the blooms, the size and smoothness which 

 each bloom develojj^, and lastl}-, the freshness, or the 

 want of it, are important matters. Many disappointments 

 have been incurred by over-estimation of the flowers at 

 home. Exhibiting teaches lessons to learners in cultivat- 

 ing Chrysanthemums which cannot be taught so perfectly 

 in any other manner. Disappointment in one's own 

 blooms often does, or ought to, set the cultivator thinking 

 how to remedy the evil and imjirove the prospects of 

 future combat. 



An erroneous idea prevails in some quarters as to the 

 correct meaning of ripening wood. Wood-ripening does 

 not consist in merelv hardening the wood, but al.so in 

 storing it with nutriment for the lilooms. If the ripening 

 or maturation is forced, so to speak, by drought or in 

 other ways, such treatment unduly contracts the sap ves- 

 sels, impeding a free flow of nourishment for the blooms 

 at a critical time. This is what may be termed over- 

 ripening. The wood must be matured by natural means. 

 Sun heat is the most essential point to consider in the 

 proper ripening of the wood, and without its aid it is not 

 ]5ossible to achieve the object named. In some seasons 

 and localities there may be too much of it, and in others 

 not enough. The main point, then, is to know how to 

 benefit bv what we do get, and reduce as much as possible 

 the injurious effects of having too much. There are two 

 kinds of localities which have their seasons, so to speak. 

 Pioth are favorable to success in certain seasons, but in 

 opposite directions. First of these are the low-lying dis- 

 tricts, which are especially favorable to successful results 

 during a dry a'nd hot season. Heavy night dews greatly 

 assist the cultivator who resides in a low-lying locality. 

 CiTrvsantheniums are moisture-loving plants, both at the 

 roots and also about the foliage. But when the season is 

 I wet one, and there is an absence of solar warmth, then 

 ihe grower who resides in a low-lying district is at a dis- 

 advantage. Blooms produced in such localities as that 

 described are remarkable for the breadth of the petals, 

 and prove that a somewhat damp atmosphere is favorable 

 to this end. But it is not necessarv that the district should 

 be one attended with a heavy rainfall, so lonsr as there is 

 humiditv in the air. The other class of cultivator is he 



