February 4, 1911 



HORTICULTURE 



133 



The Swan-Neck Orchids 



Cycnoches ventricosL'M 



The swan-neck orchids, represented by about eight 

 species, are found only from Mexico to Guiana. They 

 are known botanically as CycnocheSj which means "swan- 

 neck," in reference to the resemblance of the column of 

 the flowers to the neck and head of the swan. The genus 

 belongs to that odd tribe of three genera, the Catasetinae, 

 whicli includes also the equally remarkable Mormodes 

 and Catasetum, both likewise American genera. The 

 orchids of this tribe are rarely seen in cultivation, out- 

 side of botanical gardens or private collections. This 

 assertion applies particularly to Cycnoches. 



The swan-neck orchids are remarkable in having three 

 kinds of flowers. The staminate and pistillate flowers 

 are very dissimilar in appearance, the former, borne in 

 short few-flowered racemes, differing widely, not only in 

 color but in shape, from the smaller pistillate flowers 

 which occur in long pendulous racemes. There is also 

 a third intermediate form, usually perfect — that is, with 

 both stamens and pistils. The three forms occur not 

 only on the same plant, but sometimes in the same in- 

 florescence. 



The orchids belonging to the Catasetinae should be 

 more generally grown, for, although not so showy as Cat- 

 tleyas, they are far more interesting in their strange 

 flowers and methods of pollen dissemination. Their 

 culture is not difficult, if they are given a long period of 

 rest at the proper time, with plenty of water at the grow- 

 ing and flowering seasons. 



The accompanying illustration shows a plant of 

 Cycnoches ventricosum Bateman, with staminate flow- 

 ers. This was received by the New York Botanical Gar- 

 den, among a lot of other orchids, from Tehuantepec, 

 Mexico, through an exchange arranged with a gentleman 

 living in southern Mexico. This species was described 

 from living plants secured by Mr. Skinner in 1843 near 

 Iztapa, Guatemala, about 300 miles to the eastward of 

 Tehuantepec. The staminate flowers have the sepals, 

 petals and column a yellowisli green, and the lip pure 

 white. The flowers exhale a strong sweet odor. 



Seasonable Notes on Culture of 

 Florists^ Stock 



ADIANTDMS 



^V sliorl spell of rest is advisable after any heavy cut , 

 of the fronds. During the period of this inactivity, they _ 

 should never be wholly denuded of mature fronds. With- ^ 

 hold water just enough to expel the acidity from the soil, 

 but never suffer them to become at any time dust-dry at 

 the roots. While drying out stir the surface to a reason- 

 able depth so as to freely admit air and light. With the 

 appearance of the young fronds starting, a top-dressing 

 of two parts of rotten cow manure to ope part of soil 

 makes a good mulch. As the days get longer and brighter 

 and the plants start into active growth some stimulant 

 can be applied in tlie way of liquid manure water. Cow 

 manure and soot is the liest to vise, half a bushel of the 

 former and a peck of soot put into a bag and placed in 

 50 gallons of water. This if applied about once a week 

 will stimulate growth. Repot adiantums that have had 

 a rest, using a compost of three parts fibrous soil, one 

 part well-decayed cow manure and one part leaf-mold 

 with some sharp sand added. Increase your stock now 

 by dividing clumps into pieces large enough to pot into 

 3-inch pots. Place in a frame on some damp sphagnum 

 and maintain a temperature of from 60 to 6.5 degrees, 

 and in two or three weeks they will have developed new 

 I'oots when they can be placed on bench and grown on. 

 Ailiantum Croweanum, cuneatum and decorum give bet- 

 ter and firmer fronds when grown in 55 degrees. 



CALCEOLARIAS 



These plants can now get their last shift into their 

 flowering pots. Use a compost of three parts of turfy 

 loam and one part each of cow manure and leaf-mold, 

 with the addition of some sand. Like all quick-rooting 

 plants of this nature they should not be potted too hard; 

 nor yet too loosely, as the water will run away too quick- 

 ly. Just use moderation. Give them a position as near 

 the glass as available. Keep plenty of moisture around 

 tiju plants and under the benches, and don't let tempera- 

 ture go above 50 degrees at night as they delight in a 

 cool moist atmosphere. Later on when the roots are well 

 through the soil liquid manure can be applied at regular 

 and quite frequent intervals. Keep the aphis in check 

 by mild fumigation every week. Give plenty of ventila- 

 tion whenever possible. 



FORCING SHRUBS 



Bring into a house where the temperature stands at 

 about 50 degrees, and use the syringe freely once or twice 

 a day for the first four or five weeks. In about two weeks 

 raise the temperature two or three degrees more as root 

 action is becoming more active. It takes from seven to 

 eight weeks to bring most spring-fiowering shrubs into 

 bloom. For rhododendrons and kalmia it is better to let 

 them come along more slowly; they will be much better 

 in foliage and color, while the flowers will last longer. 

 More time should be allowed for snow ball and weigelas. 

 Give them full light and sunshine now as it imparts vigor 

 to the plant and gives a fine depth of color to the foliage. 

 When in bloom give them a cool house for a week or ten 

 days before wanted. Admit air at all times when the 

 outside conditions of the atmosphere will permit. For- 

 sythia, Judas, almond, peach, cherry, pyrus, magnolia, 

 spiraea, weigela and virburnum are good subjects. 



GERANIUMS 



- To have bushy plants with fine flowers for Memorial 

 Day they should be in 2-inch pots now and when these 

 are ,well rooted they should be shifted successively until 

 4-inch or 5-inch pots are reached. For these shifts use 

 a good loam two parts and old manure one part. Keep 



