February 12, 1910 



HORTICULTURE 



223 



things, which is worthy of mention. In June an ef- 

 ficiently drained border was planted with the Amaryllis 

 bulbs, with an edging of Zephyranthes Candida, a plant 

 which has white flowers and dark green foliage, and it 

 had a pretty effect. As Amaryllis Belladonna flowers 

 in its leafless state, the soil between the bulbs was 

 planted with sedum. The conditions for successful 

 growth and flowering are first, a sunny position, a 

 porous soil and firm planting; water being afforded in 

 hot weather. 



A HYBRID BETWEEN ALBINO ORCHIDS 



At the meeting of the scientific committee of the 

 Koyal Horticultural Society on January 11 a flowering 

 plant was shown by Mr. Thwaittes, of Streatham Hill, 

 London, of which Cattleya Mendelii alba was the male 

 parent, crossed with Cattleya Gaskelliana alba, the fe- 

 male one. The flowers were not of a clear white as are 

 the parents, but had a faint pearly tinge. Up to the 

 present two plants have borne flowers with the same 

 characteristics and others are in bud; in which stage 

 they appear to be white. 



FICUS HADICANS FOL. ALBA VAR. 



We have in this Ficus, a rare and pretty variegated 

 basket and climbing plant. Although not quite a novel- 

 ty, it is still infrequently seen in gardens, notwithstand- 

 ing it being a plant of easy propagation and culture, 

 like the green leaved type, F. radicans. Owing to its 

 white variegation and climbing habit, there are many 

 purposes to which the plant may be put; not only as a 

 basket or vase plant, but likewise to form ornamental 

 globes and pyramids, which present very charming ef- 

 fects ; and it affords, when there is a lack of white flow- 

 ers, welcome material for the finer kinds of florists' work, 

 in particular for wreaths and garlands. 



ORNAMENTAL LEAVED BEGONIAS 



During recent years a new type of ornamental foli- 

 aged begonias has come to the front in Germany, the 

 fore-runners of which were varieties of B. Eex. Aware 

 of the facts that the earlier Eex begonias possessed beau- 

 tiful leaf coloring and that they were, as regards the 

 leaves and leaf stalks, very brittle and easily injured, 

 therefore not suitable for market purposes, and because 

 of their entailing much difficulty in packing and car- 

 riage, the efforts of the hybridists have been directed 

 towards crosses of the large-leaved species with those 

 which are tall growers. One of these cross-breeders, 

 Herrn Fobe of Ohorn, whose novelties of this class pos- 

 sess pleasing coloring, erect, spreading growth, and flex- 

 ible leaves, properties very essential in market plants, 

 and as decorative objects in winter gardens and conserv- 

 atories, is now offering some of them. The following are 

 recommended for potting purposes, and as good salable 

 plants for the florist. The variety Flora possesses dark 

 green leaves with silvery white tips ; in Germania the 

 middle area is brownish green with silvery markings on 

 the outerhalf; Lusatia has silvery white leaves with a 

 reddish suffusion and veins of dark green; Saxonia has 

 silvery white blotches on a ground color of green, the 

 edge and mid-area being of a brownish green tinge; 

 and Perle von Ohorn has a silvery white leaf suffused 

 with carmine — a fine plant for cutting purposes. These 

 varieties are of proved value and may be highly recom- 

 mended for the purposes named. A Begonia hybrid 

 named Chicago, of another race, has leaves of silvery 

 white and the entire plant is very effective. It has 

 great powers of resistance and reaches a height of two 

 feet. — Otto Maedicke, in Die Gartenvelt. 



Vitis Thunbergii 



Several years ago a very handsome large-leaved vine 

 was introduced to England from Japan and received the 

 specific name of Thunbergii, but as another small-leaved 

 Vitis of no particular merit from a horticultural stand- 

 point had been known for many years under this name 

 —and also a native of China and Japan— this naturally 

 led to some confusion. The vine to which I wish to 

 draw attention was distributed by the Messrs. Veitch 

 of Chelsea, England, and is consequently known as 

 Veitch's Vitis Thunbergii, but it is considered by many 

 eminent botanists, Mr. E. H. Wilson among them, to be 

 a variety of the well-known Vitis Coignetiae which is 

 highly valued for its extreme hardiness and ornamental 

 character. Considering that the true V. Thunbergii is 

 of little value and only seen in botanic gardens it may 

 be well to retain so honored a name as Thunbergii for 

 this very superior form of V. Coignetiae and much dis- 

 appointment and confusion would be avoided if it were 

 listed by botanic gardens and nursery establishments as 

 Vitis Coignetiae var. Thunbergii. However, be the 

 name what it may, this is, undoubtedly, the handsomest 

 and most imposing of all cultivated vines and would 

 supersede V. Coignetiae if it were better known in this 

 country. For any position where climbing plants can 

 be utilized it is a magnificent plant but it will be seen 

 to the best advantage if planted on a pergola or pole 

 in a situation fully exposed to the sun as the wonder- 

 ful autumnal tints are then most brilliant. 



It is not advisable to plant this vine in a rich soil 

 or one that contains any manure as this conduces to very 

 rapid growth which does not become fully ripened. An 

 ordinary loam with moderately good drainage is the best 

 rooting medium and then it will easily make fifteen to 

 twenty feet of growth in one season after becoming es- 

 tablished, which a very robust constitution soon enables 

 it to do. Copious supplies of water during extremely 

 dry weather are, of course, beneficial. 



Although in general appearance it resembles V. Coig- 

 netiae, this vine has much larger foliage, the individual 

 leaves, which are dark green on the upper surface and 

 clothed with a dense soft down on the under side meas- 

 uring one foot to fifteen inches in diameter. No one 

 can fail to be impressed with this gorgeous vine in the 

 fall when it puts on the most brilliant coloring com- 

 posed of scarlet, crimson and gold, and in this country it 

 would be more effective than in England owing to the 

 brighter and more persistent sunshine. As with all or- 

 namental vines for outside culture it is advisable to cut 

 this variety hard back the first season after planting, as 

 the growth is then much more satisfactory. 



Dendrobium formosum giganteum 



One of the finest dendrobiums in cultivation. Its 

 handsome white flowers are invaluable to the florist, 

 being very largely used for bridal bouquets and other 

 work requiring choice white flowers. A native of Bur- 

 mah, it enjoys a hot moist temperature when making 

 its growth. The flowers are produced in clusters. 

 Well-gi'own plants will bear clusters of from 5 to 10 

 flowers each and when one considers the market value of 

 the flowers one wonders why not more are grown. One 

 thing to be remembered if anyone wishes to grow this 

 species successfully is to buy only strong plants. They 

 can be had for about $1.50 each freshly imported. 



