August 28, 1909 



HORTICULTURE 



307 



Calceolaria Clibrani 



During the past two j-ears this 

 new calceolaria has been gi-own at 

 the Cornell experimental station, 

 and has been found an ideal plant 

 for greenhouse decoration during 

 tJie late spring and early summer 

 months. A subject of greater deco- 

 rative value of this genus Calceo- 

 laria woidd be difficult to find. 

 The plant is very floriferous, bear- 

 ing an abundance of beautiful 

 lemon yellow flowers, in graceful 

 cymose inflorescences which droop 

 and almost completely hide the foli- 

 t.ge from view. One plant eight 

 ninnths old grown from seed, and 

 finally repotted into a 6-incli pot 

 bore upwards of 800 flowers. 



Generally speaking this plant is 

 not so difficult of culture as the 

 herbaceous type, and can be raised 

 either by seeds or cuttings, the 

 latter method of propagation being 

 preferable if large plants are re- 

 quired. The cuttings should be 

 taken in September or October, and 

 vrill furnish nice specimens by 

 April or ilay. Seeds so\ra about 

 the same time will produce flowering plants during 

 May and June. 



The plants vary greatly in height when grown 

 from seed, some attaining a height of 4 feet, while 

 others are not more than 18 inches. Great variation 

 also exists among the seedlings, many of the plants 

 producing distinctly mottled leaves. However, by 

 careful selection a very desirable type has evidently 

 been secured, and may be regarded as fixed. 



As a decorative plant C. Clibrani is well known in 

 Britain, although it is only about two years since its in- 

 troduction, and from our experience with the plant it is 

 not too much to say that it will find favor wherever 

 grown. It is a charming subject for massing with other 

 plants, and even when arranged in individual batches 

 it is very artistic. 



The greatest virtue of the variety probably lies in the 



fact that it will stand more heat than the herbaceous 

 t}-pe, and this alone ought to make it popular. In view 

 of the above fact we are using the plant extensively for 

 crossing purposes, with the object of producing varieties 

 better adapted to the climate, as some of the types now 

 grown are not altogether satisfactory', which state of 

 afEairs is due to the excessive heat of the late spring and 

 early summer months. 



Quite recently a correspondent of "Hortictiltttrc," 

 l\Ir. Stewart, remarked to the effect that a more desir- 

 able type than the old herbaceous one was needed, a 

 statement with which I entirely agree. 



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The pans should be plitnged in sand or ashes in as cool 

 and shady a position as possible : a pit or frame facing 

 the north, if available, is the best. The seed, which 

 is very fine, need not be covered with soil, but a sheet 

 of glass placed over the pan will make the condition 

 suitable for germination. 



After germination, the glass should be removed and 

 when the little seedlings are large enough to be 

 handled with a sharp pointed stick they should be trans- 

 planted into shallow flats or pans filled v\ith the same 

 sort of soil as used for the seeds. As soon as the plants 

 are large enough they should be {wtted singly into three 

 inch pots, tising for this potting a light fibrous loam 

 with a small amount of dried cow manure and leaf 

 soil. As soon as the roots reach the sides of the pots 

 they must be again repotted and so on until they are 

 into their flowering pots, which for the largest speci- 

 men? will be nine inches. The soil for the final potting 

 should be one-half good loam, one-fourth dried cow 



manure and one-fourth leaf soil, with enough sand to 

 keep the compost open. In potting care should be taken 

 not to firm the soil too much. Up to the time that they 

 begin to show signs of flowering they should be kept 

 in as cool and light a place as possible, a temperature 

 of 35 to 40 suiting them well. Ample room should be 

 given them so as to allow a free circulation of air 

 and the proper development of the leaves. All dead 

 or decaying leaves should be removed and a constant 

 watch should be kept for green fly wliicli is about the 

 only pest that troubles them. 



They require at all times an abundance of water but 

 careful attention must be paid to the watering. They 

 must never be allowed to become dry, neither should 

 they be allowed to become waterlogged. When the 

 flowering shoots begin to appear an application 

 every two weeks of weak liquid manure will prove 

 beneficial, and as they require it the flower stems should 

 be supported with neat stakes. 



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