100 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



A RARE ORCHID COLLECTION 



■yV/ HAT is without doubt the finest orchid collection in 

 " existence today in the southern states is that of Mr. 

 and ]\Irs. Asa G. Candler. Jr., which occupies two sections 

 of the greenhouses on their estate at Atlanta, Ga. One 

 section consists of species exclusively, covering a very 

 complete list of Cattleya Trianre, C. IMossise, C. labiata, C. 

 gigas, Oncidium, and \'anda, which are grown mostly for 

 cut flower purposes. Among the \'anda cierulea, one 

 flowered with two spikes last Fall, carrying thirty-two 

 blooms. 



The hybrid section contains a choice collection of which 

 mention mu.st be made of the following: Brasso-Cattle- 

 yas such as B-C. X ^landa, B-C. X Empress of Russia, 

 B-C. Siren. B-C. Lotus (very rare), B-C. Calypso (very 



Brasso-Cattleya, Ileiie, of the collection of orchids belong- 

 ing to Mr. and Mrs. Asa G. Candler, Jr., Atlanta, Ga. 

 (James Barnct, gardener.) This floivcr measured full 

 9H X 9J4 inches. 



scarce), and B-C. X Xciitor; Cattlevas such as C. X 

 Adonis C. X Lord Rothschild, C. X Prince John, C. 

 X Princess Royal C. X Golden Oriole fa very beautiful 

 orange yellow variety) : I^-elio-Cattlevas such as L-C. 

 X Australia, L-C. X Bella, L-C. X Delight, and .so forth, 

 comprising in all about three hundred of the best hybrids. 

 The collection, which was supplied by Julius Roehrs 

 Company, is one that is greatly ai>preciated by Mr. and 

 Mrs. Candler, Jr., both of whom are keenly interested in 

 the orchid. 



ORCHID EXPEDITION TO TROPICS 



QKORfib: H. PRIXG. the horticulturist to the Mis- 

 ^^ souri Botanical Garden, has started for Panama and 

 Colombia for the purpose of organizing an c.\])eflition into 

 the mountain regions of parts of South .\nierica to col- 

 lect orchids as well as certain interesting economic ])lants. 

 Before making such a trip it was necessary to obtain a 

 special ])ermit from the Federal Horticultural Board of 

 the Department of Agriculture, in order that the Cattlevas 

 and other orchids lx.-st known to the iniblic might be ad- 

 mitted. These plants, with many others, were formerly 

 imported by the thousands, but since the enforcement of 



"Quarantine Number 37" very few have entered the coun- 

 try. The fact that the Missouri Botanical Garden is pre- 

 pared to combat any injurious insect or fungous pest 

 which may happen to inhabit the collected specimens was 

 undoubtedly a factor in obtaining the necessary permit. 



During the recent annual orchid displays the visitors 

 have repeatedly manifested a desire to see an exhibition 

 of orchid flowers arranged in masses, similar to the chry- 

 santhenumi show. The habits and manner of growth of 

 orchids do not permit their propagation in the same way 

 as chiysanthemums, and it is necessary to secure the 

 plants from their native home. Therefore, in order to 

 bring the orchid show to the same high degree of excel- 

 lence as the "mum show" and similar exhibits it becomes 

 necessary to olitain the popular favorites in quantity. 

 With this in view the expedition to the tropics is being- 

 planned. The genus Cattleya includes many species 

 which flower at different months of the year. 



Tlie favorite haunts of the various species of Cattleya 

 are the mountain ranges of Colombia, Venezuela, Guate- 

 mala, I'-cuador, British Guiana, and ISrazil, each variety 

 being practicallv indigenous to a special locality. The 

 species most desired at the Garden are those flowering 

 in January and February, and these are Cattleya Trianae 

 and Cattleya Schrffidera. The former is found in the 

 upper Magdalena near Natagaima on the Saldana River 

 of Colombia and the latter in the Llanos de Cassanare on 

 the Venezuelan border of the same countrj', two widely 

 separated regions particularly when the difficulties of 

 transportation are borne in mind. Despite this fact it is 

 hoped that sufficient plants may be collected and brought 

 back to St. Louis, so that the most notable exhibition of 

 rchids ever held at the Garden may be made during the 

 eari^^^rt of 1924. — Missouri Botanical Garden Bulletin. 



DELPHINWMS AND DEEP CULTURE 



T 



HI', f 



failures I hav^ '"^ '^^^^^ ^''^'^'^ ^" '^^'-'" tlirough 



lack of appreciatioit^iis to the requirements of these 



quick-growing herbaceoikv subjects. On loamy soils 

 it is not a very dirflcult malt^r to conser\-e moisture, 

 and it is when such provision is-.^^^^e for Deli>hmiunis 

 that the roots find sustenance deep ^'o^^'" throughout the 

 period prior to blooming. We are not jill. however m the 

 ha])py position of having a loamy so'i' ^ '^^ ^^ u 

 Some have to contend with a soil of a saiil'"^ °^ gravellv 

 nature, through which water (luicklv pe™'''^[^s- ^"" 

 Dell)hiniums betray lack of food. It is at' ^^he more 

 reason why any deficiency should be made ujf^ . "• 

 as in the absence of food, no flowering plani^* '"u 

 garden cut so sorry a figure as these. Eve''\ °^^ 

 who are handicapped in the nature of their so ^.''" 

 obviate to a very large extent any possible failur^ ^ .^ 

 these ])lants by working into the base vegetable ^''' "'"^ 

 as well as manure. 



One of the lessons I k'arned earl_\ in life wa-" ^^ 

 manner in which a good grower of Dclphini ^'.'"^ 

 treated his shallow soil by making use of deca}'"^ 

 vegetation and in mulching the roots during the gr."^' 

 ing season. There is one iioint -which is sometin^'^^ 

 fiverlooked concerning these i)lants. and it is 

 ra|)idity with which most of them grow, neccssitat 

 the cliim])S being divided at certain intervals if t!;'^^ 

 are to be ke]it within reasonable limits, ft is not u"" 

 usual to see large clum])s carrying far too many s])ikes • 

 the centres being poor and inditlferent, consequent ou 

 their not being able to obtain the needful moisture. 

 It is the moderate-sized clumps, with a cool run that 

 always make for beaut v in a gardoc,:— (^<"'f/<'"'".C IIIks- 

 Irated. 



the 

 ing 



