330 



HORTICULTURE 



March 5, 1910 



inches high (IJ. nigropunctatum). In color they 

 range from pure white, clear yellow, pink and purple 

 to scarlet and the deepest and richest shades of crimson. 

 Ehododendrons grow gregariously and nearly every 

 species has its own well-defined altitudinal zone. This, 

 combined with their differently colored flowers, gives a 

 bizarre appearance to tlie forests and mountain-sides 

 when they are in bloom. Belts of white, pink, scarlet, 

 etc., alternating one with another. June is the month 

 when nearly all the species are in flower and it is 

 impossible to exaggerate their beauty. — No finer sight 

 can be imagined than miles and miles of woodland, 

 forest and moorland covered with Rhododendron bushes 

 in full flower. In the wild and little known regions of 

 the Chino-Thibetan borderland, and more especially the 

 neighborhood of Tachien-lu, the traveler for days 

 together wends his way through forest and moorland 

 ablaze with Rhododendron flowers. 



A broad-leaved Ehododendron with trusses of large 

 flowers having the yellow and gold color of the de- 

 ciduous "mollis" and '"sinense" forms has been the 

 dream of all Rhododendron hybridizers and in spite of 

 every effort it remains still a dream. Though many of 

 the new Chinese species have yellow flowers it is doubt- 

 ful if they will yield the long looked for "blood." The 

 species have small or medium-sized flowers and it is 

 uncertain if they will cross satisfactorily with tlie large 

 flowered kinds. But there is a great possibility of an 

 entirely new race with small but persistent evergreen 

 leaves being raised from these new introductions. 

 E. flavidum and R. primulinum both have these yellow 

 flowers in size similar to the old E. amoenum. These 

 two species are denizens of the uplands around Tachien- 

 lu, between 10,000 and 12,000 feet altitude, where 

 they form bushes 3 to 6 feet tall with small, ovate 

 leaves about an inch long. 



As before mentioned these Chinese Ehododendrons 

 are as yet an unknown quantity over here and experi- 

 ence is necessary before much can be said of their merits 

 as garden plants. On the other side two species, R. 

 intricatum and R. Souliei, have been exhibited and 

 have received first-class certificates of merit. The first- 

 named is one of the moorland species, grows 2 to 3 feet 

 tall with small, ovoid leaves an inch long and lavender- 

 pink flowers about i/.-inch across. It is a very florifer- 

 ous and beautiful little species. 



R. Souliei is a woodland species 3 to 6 feet tall with 

 rounded, ovate leaves 4 to 5 inches long, glaucous when 

 young, and large trusses of rose-pink, rather flatfish 

 flowers, 21/0 inches across. It is compact and bushy in 

 habit and the color of its flowers is most pleasing. 



CCf-*^-Vx. 



A misplaced line In Mr. Wilson's contribution last 

 weelc, near the top of first column on page 294, in the 

 note referring to Cotoneaster rugosa, requires correction. 

 The note should read as follows: 



Cotoneaster rugoaa and its variety Henryi are both 

 very ornamental shrubs 6 to 15 ft. tall, free-growing with 

 arching, seml-pendulous branches and flat corymbs of 

 pure white flowers, followed in autumn by bunches of 

 bright coral-red fruits. The leaves are ovate-lanceolate, 

 about 2yn to 3 inches long, wrinkled, shining green above 

 and covered on the underside with a heavy white felt. — Ed. 



Commercial Orchids for the South | 



i 



This order of plants has now gained a position as ) 

 to be indispensiblo to the commercial florist and the 1 

 South is just waking up to the fact that a great many i 

 varieties can be grown here as well as and better than j 

 anywhere else. Some varieties cannot be successfully ' 

 grown here, but the number of those that do succeed is J 

 plentiful enough and the small expense attached to i 

 their cultivation promises a rich harvest to those who 1 

 embark in the business. That there is a ready local i 

 market for the flowers is demonstrated by the calls j 

 for them from the flower buying public. Some growers I 

 are alive to this fact and are making a move, but there | 

 is lots of room for more of them to follow and the j 

 market is sure. Probably the most popular genus is | 

 the Cattleya, and many of this species do better here I 

 than in the North. So little fire heat is required in the i 

 winter that a Cattleya will strengthen and increase for I 

 a great number of years, and the fiowers especially in | 

 the late fall and winter will last longer. The moss that | 

 abounds on the oak and cypress trees, after it is thor- 

 oughly cured, makes an excellent potting material, and 

 can be had for the picking. Some live sphagnum and i 

 charcoal lumps should be added. The pots must be i 

 well filled with broken crocks for drainage and the | 

 potting material firmly packed around the plant, which • 

 should be just raised a little above the rim of the pot. ] 

 The main things to watch out for are the growing and i 

 resting periods. While growing, the plants require lots ; 

 of water, but as soon as growth is completed they re- ' 

 quire a rest, when water is withheld and the plant is j 

 kept almost dry at the roots, but a moist atmosphere j 

 maintained in the house. A lath shed is an ideal place 

 for them during the summer months, and they need 

 not be brought into the house until the end of October 

 or beginning of November. It is needless to say they 

 require plenty of ventilation, which it is always possible 

 to give them here, and even during the shortest days 

 a light shade is necessary for most varieties. A night 

 temperature between 50 and 60 degrees will suit them 

 admirably. It is impossible in a general article like 

 this to give a detailed cultural account of each species. 

 The purpose of this article is more to stimulate the 

 growing than to give cultural directions therefor. The 

 following is a partial list of those species which do 

 exceptionally well in the South and are of easy culture : 

 Cattleya Bowringiana, small but early fall fiowering 

 and of a striking color; C. labiata — C. Percivilliana — 

 not a particularly fine orchid, but a sure one for Christ- 

 mas; C. Trianae, the best mid-winter sort; C. Schroed- 

 erEe, flowers after above ; C. Skinneri, C. Mendelii and 

 C. Mossiac; these follow in succession and will give 

 flowers till the end of May. 



Oncidium varicosimi, 0. v. Rogersii; these are lively 

 flowers and good keepers. 0. splendidum; this is a 

 beautiful variety with spikes 2 to 3 feet long and an 

 easy doer. Laelia anceps; this does best on a 



