HORTI CULTURE 



December 23, 1905 



Dendrobium Phalaenopsis Schroederianum 



From its first mtroduction this useful dendrobium 

 has grown in popular favor. The fact that it flowers in 

 the dull days of winter makes it a very welcome addi- 

 tion to this section. Its lengthy, graceful sprays unlike 

 most dendrobes, makes it extremely valuable for table 

 or bouquet work. It may be cut, too, without severing 

 the bulb, which is often the beginning of the end with 

 other varieties. It also lasts well when cut and in 

 quantity gives a great variety of sliadcs I'aniiinu- from 

 pure white (rare) to the deepest i>in|ili' :iiiil i> a won- 

 derfully free bloomer, old Inilbs cdutiiiiiinii- \i> throw 

 occasional sprays and good stout bulbs often produce 

 fnmi two to three from the apex of new growths. 



It is not generally considered an easy plant to grow 

 and certainly requires distinct individual treatment; a 

 native of Xow Guinea it belongs to the East Indian 

 group which includes bigibbum, Bensonias, and super- 

 biens, all of which have established a reputation as 

 being difficult to increase in size after a few years of 

 artificial cultivation. But if its wants are carefully 

 supplied it is really very amenable to treatment and 

 easy to grow-. 



A few cultural hints wdll perhaps be helpful. With 

 regard to imported plants a selection should be made 

 even at a greater cost; medium sized plants which show 

 a graduation of bulbs from the seedling stage upward 

 are preferable to larger plants which not infrequently 

 are old divided pieces, often with dead eyes at the base. 

 There is not much promise in these except for a few 

 aerial growths. Plants should be dipped in tobacco 

 juice and water as a preventive against insect pests ; of 

 late, weevils which bore through the bulbs have caused 

 much destruction. These must be carefully looked after 

 and infected bulbs destroyed. Potting should be de- 

 ferred until growth is started placing the plants on 



stage or hung from the roof in a moist temperature flf 

 not less than 75 degrees, syringing slightly once a day. 



The smallest possible receptacles should be used. 

 Orchid pans are the most suitable; only one crock is 

 necessary. Use a cpmpost of fibrous peat, a little 

 sifted leafmould with small quantity of chopped 

 spliagniun moss with a little sand. They should not be 

 mounted as they dry quick enough in small pans. They 

 should be hung up about 2 ft. from the glass well out of 

 drip, using copper wire to which bulbs may be secured. 

 They delight in full sunlight and should never be 

 shaded; where only a few are grown a croton house 

 would be an ideal place, causing growth. 



A moist hot temperature of not less than 80 degrees at 

 night slididd Kc maintained in growing season. Wafer 

 sparin.i^ly until uio^tli and root action is well developed 

 after wimli ciipKius supplies may be given. When 

 bulbs begin to swell a weekly dip in weak solution of 

 cow dung will be most helpful. 



Flowers spikes appear at the end of growing season. 

 After flowering they should not be moved to such cold 

 quarters as is the case with the Wardianum section but 

 remain in a stove temperature of not less than 65 

 at night until growth starts again, watering only once 

 weekly. These methods are the result of practical ex- 

 periment for a number of years and if faithfully fol- 

 lowed in the main witli due regard to local conditions, 

 this invaluable orchid will yield results which will be a 

 source of satisfaction to grower and public alike. 



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Evergreens for Window Boxes 



What a relief it is to the eye, at this season of the 

 year, to see evergreens with their beautiful shadings of 

 green, bronze and yellow, while all around the shrubs 

 and trees are leafless and bare except for a few red ber- 

 ries here and there. 



Many people are not aware that, even though their 

 place is small or they live in the city, they can enjoy the 

 pleasure of having these pretty plants as well as those 

 who are favored with large properties. 



All through the winter a decidedly pretty effect can 

 be secured by planting small, formal evergreens in win- 

 dow boxes. Placed along the railing of the porch or 

 outside the window they give an air of cheerfulness that 

 one would hardly imagine could be secured with so little 

 effort. 



In attempting tlus work the first point to consider is 

 the procuring of a box witli sufficient depth to keep the 

 plants from fi-cczing and drying out too quickly. It is 

 natural that ili<'\ will suffer some, but where the box is 

 15 inclu> ill (lc|iili the plants have good chances of com- 

 ing through with little suffering and may often be used 

 for permanent planting in the open ground. 



In putting the plants in the box care sliould be exer- 

 cised in arranging them to secure the best results. "I'lie 

 tall, ilark-green varieties are excellent for using in tin' 

 background in order to bring out the form and color of 

 those tliat will lie used in the fm-ogfoiind. 



The arbor-vitacs rank first a^ thr l»',-l tvpc for this 

 use. as they can be secured in almost any >lia|i(' iind 

 quite a few shades of colors. The \ai-ictics spiralis, occi- 



dental] s and pyramidalis are the best for background 

 work. Globosa and Hoveyi are well adapted for using 

 as dwarf types in the foreground. 



There are also some very pretty Chinese kinds that 

 are worthy of mention. Biota orientalis and the golden 

 forms of this species, elegantissima and nana aurear are 

 very useful owing to their style of growth and excellent 

 coloring. 



Another class of evofgroens that can hardly be dis- 

 pensed with are the lvll||,l^|Hl|■a- or Japanese cedars. 

 The plumosa aurea auil s(niaiiiisa stand out as the two 

 best, though obtusa compacta and nana aurea help to 

 make a good assortment. 



The junipers rank second to the arbor vitaes for 

 using in this manner. Juniperus hibernica or Irish ju- 

 niper is very good for using with the tall forms of arbor 

 vitaes, while stricta and suecica compacta serve well to 

 use with the dwarf types. 



Box plants are often used where a large assortment 

 is wanted, though (hev can be omitted without destroy- 

 ing the effect. 



It lakes from t<'n in I wclvo to plant a box nine inches 

 wide and fortv-livc m.hcs bmg. This will serve as a 

 gtiiili- ill cstiinating thi' i|uanlil\ ni'idcd rm- larger or 



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