May 7, 1910 



HORTICULTURE 



689 



Achimenes 



Among the summer flowering greenhouse plants the 

 genus Acliimenes deserves a prominent place. They are 

 both useful and decorative. It is possible to make fine 

 oentre pieces with the cut blooms, using one variety alone 

 or blending various colors together in a harmonious man- 

 ner. If allowed to hang evenly around the edge of a 

 shallow pan, or a small basket, they also make a nice 

 hanging plant. In fact, no matter how they are used 

 in decorative work either as plants or flowers the quaint 

 shape, fine markings and brilliant coloring always ex- 

 cite admiration. The genus is large, there being over 

 twenty species known to botanists, all natives of tropical 

 America. Horticulturists, however, are more familiar 

 with the hybrid forms, which are said to even surpass the 

 species in beauty, and are getting to be innumerable. 



Achimenes are grown from tubercles which should be 

 planted separately in some finely sifted sphagnum moss, 

 and kept moist until the shoots are about two inches 

 high when they may be transferred to the pots, pans or 

 baskets they are to be grown in. A temperature of 

 sixty-five degrees should be maintained all the time they 

 are growing. The compost should be equal parts of 

 fibrous loam, flaky leaves, and dried cow manure, with 

 plenty of finely broken charcoal to keep the whole sweet 

 and open. The receptacles should be well drained with 

 crocks, covering them with some of the roughest of the 

 potting material. Fill the pots or pans to within half 

 an inch of the top with the compost, and do not press 

 too firmly. The started shoots with the tuber attached 

 should be pricked in, say at the rate of ten to a six-inch 

 pot, taking care to have them all of uniform growth, as 

 that is the advantage to be gained by starting them be- 

 fore potting. After potting has been completed, place 

 them as near the glass as possible shading from the sun, 

 as the foliage is easily scorched, water carefully until 

 they are growing vigorously and syringe lightly morning 

 and evening. After they are well rooted in the compost, 

 manure water may be given occasionally, and the shoots 

 should get one pinching. Wlien the plants get so that 

 they are liable to fall over, they should be staked neatly. 

 with thin twigs, and after they begin to flower they 

 should be kept as airy as possible. When they have fin- 

 ished flowering, water should be gradually withheld, un- 

 til the shoots decay, when they may be placed in some 

 dry, warm corner until the following spring. 



Varieties can be increased by cuttings, leaves, or scales 

 from the corms. The cuttings may be rooted in the 

 ordinary way, and the leaves like a begonia leaf. The 

 scales should be sown like fine seed in a rather leafy soil. 

 A selection of desirable varieties may be had from any 

 good nurserj-man, who caters to the greenhouse trade. 

 Colors are usually given in their plant lists, and one can 

 select at pleasure. As I said above, varieties are getting 

 to be legion and, as is usual in such a case, the same 

 variety may go by different names. 



IFesi Medford, Mass. 



Dendrobium Japonicum 



In full bloom, growing naturally on a tree at South Island, Japan. 

 Photo by H. Suzuki. 



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 Horticuhure, to be issued on MAY 21, 19 10. 



It will be a beautiful edition with cover of special 

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