July 7, 1906 



HORTICULTURi: 



View at the Scarborough Nurseries of F, R. Pierson Company 





The accompanying illustration serves two good pur- 

 poses — one to show the care and good taste with which 

 this well-managed establisliiuent is planted and which 

 affords a pertinent examjilc that many other nursery- 

 men might follow with licnefit to themselves — and the 



other to illustrate the graceful lines of the Pierson U- 

 Bar style of greenhouse which has proved so good an 

 investment,' that, after several years' experience with it 

 Mr. Pierson has selected this construction in preference 

 to any other for the extensive addition to be made to the 

 raiioe this season. 



Oncidium sphacelatum 



At the present time Oncidium sphacelatum is making 

 a splendid show and monopolizing much of the space in 

 the flowering hotise. It is a species easily grown and 

 seldom fails to produce its long, graceful, many flowered 

 spikes, which make it a very attractive and highly orna- 

 mental subject when in flower. The spike is usually 

 three to four feet long and sometimes carries seventy- 

 five to one hundred flowers. The sepals and petab are 

 rich brown barred with yellow ; lip yellow with red band 

 in front of the crest. 



It is a native of Mexico and Central America. In its 

 native habitat it is subjected to long spells of dry 

 weather, as a result of which it has formed the habit 

 of sending out large quantities of serial roots, which 

 during a spell of damp or wet weather, can absorb 

 enormous quantities of moisture from the atmosphere 

 as well as by actual contact with water. These air roots 

 have an outer layer of air cells the functions of which 

 are to absorb moisture when moisture is present, and also 

 in a dry atmosphere to prevent excessive evaporation 



from the soft tissues of the root. Experiments have 

 shown that plants brought direct from the woods in a 

 dry condition will, when placed in a damp atmosphere, 

 al)sorb large quantities of moisture, so much as tr in- 

 crease their weight eight per cent. When grown in a 

 moist, warm greenhouse the plant continues to make air 

 roots but these are more fleshy and are not so thickly 

 coated with air cells as newly imported plants. An ordi- 

 nary warm, or intermediate house with plenty of mois- 

 ture will suit them very well. They enjoy plenty of 

 light, and as they depend largely on the asrial roots for 

 water should be placed in as small pots as possible. 



Cockroaches are very fond of the young roots; if many 

 of these are near, the plants should be isolated by plac- 

 ing them on inverted pots in saucers of water. 



This is the first number of Vol. IV. Show it to your friends and ask 

 them to subscribe now. Horticulture will give them full value. 



