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HORTICULTURE 



July 21, 1906 



Dendrobium nobile 



Commercial florists timl this old. well-known, and 

 very popular Indian orchid quite profitahle, if a little 

 common sense is used in its culture. An ideal sjjot may 

 always be found to suit its welfare on any place, but it 

 should ever be under the watchful eye of a grower who 

 has had some little experience regarding its wants (and 

 who will see they are attended to at the right time) such 

 as watering and resting, etc. It has been found to suc- 

 ceed potted in either peat, crocks, sphagnum moss or 

 leaf soil, still it is in no wise a particular orchid in 

 this respect, for it is often seen growing in an old 

 basket or pot in the same spot for years producing 

 annually a nice crop of flowers with no attention what- 

 ever; it happens to sit in a position that suits it and 

 its owner has the good sense to leave well alone. 



Generally in the spring of the year newly imported 

 plants may be obtained at small cost, which may be 

 placed in small pots, pans, or baskets, using three parts 

 peat to one of sphagnum moss as a potting material and 

 always potting firmly but not too hard. See that the 

 bulbs are tied fast to stakes driven in tlie pots or to the 

 handles of the baskets, then place them in a sunny posi- 

 tion near the roof glass w-hich must be lightly shaded 

 with paint of some kind. The surroundings should 

 always be kept nice and moist by frequent damping 

 down, the plants syringed occasionally on bright days 

 but not heavy enough to cause the compost to become 

 saturated. Give air enough to create a nice genicl and 

 buoyant atmosphere. With this treatment they will 

 soon commence to grow fast and the roots will be seen 

 to run through the potting soil to the outside of the 

 receptacle; when this occurs and the plants appear to 

 be dry at the root, they should receive a soak of water; 

 afterwards treating as before, till they appear to be in 

 need of water again. How often such soakings of 

 water may be required depends on the weather and other 

 conditions. By the end of summer the young bulbs 

 will have attained their full length and become hard 

 and firm on top; then more air may be given, reducing 

 the humidity about them and gradually giving the full 

 sun by removing the shading from the glass. 



As the plants are now receiving more sun and air 

 they will require much more water at the root for a 

 time till the bulbs have thoroughly matured ; then com- 

 mences the resting season, and for some months only 

 enough water at the root is required to prevent the 

 bulbs from shrivelling; the cooler and drier the house 

 can be kept the better, but if the house is damp or it is 

 not possible to keep the atmosphere dry, turn on more 

 heat but still keep the plants dry at the root only giving 

 the bulbs a syringe on all bright days. The growers' 

 aim at this season will be to keep the roots in good 

 healthy condition, for if tlie roots are gone by neglect 

 or some other cause the above treatment will not do by 

 any means, for no orchid can be given a rest if it is not 

 well provided with roots, nor will it exist for long either. 



By the month of February or earlier, the nodes on 

 the iDulbs made the previous year, or two years old bulbs, 

 will commence to swell ; then the plants should receive 

 a little more water at the roots and more moisture in 

 the atmosphere until the flowers are well developed; 



the bulb may then be cut close to the base. Their keep- 

 ing qualities are well known and the florist may use 

 them for decorations in many ways; the single flowers 

 dropped on a dining table with a little fern or aspar- 

 agus have a charming effect. After the flowers are cut 

 the plants will want careful treatment for a time. The 

 moisture in the house and an occasional syringe on 

 bright days will keep them going. A little moss 

 pricked in amongst the roots at this season seems to be 

 very beneficial, as it is not necessary to repot too often 

 and if the same management is followed from year to 

 vear success should follow accordingly. 



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Rose Hermosa 



This old China rose is deservedly a very popular 

 favorite wherever its merits are known. Its beautiful 

 color of shell pink, with continual flowering and delicate 

 fragrance, are a few of the characteristics which place 

 it on the high pinnacle of distinction. Hermosa (by 

 some called Armosa) was produced by one of the noted 

 French hybridizers from the "Old Blush," a popular 

 favorite in the old English rose gardens. It commences 

 to flower in the beginning of June and is a continuous 

 bloomer until cheeked by the frosts of winter. As an 

 outdoor rose it is as hardy as the hybrid perpetuals, 

 only requiring the same course of protection. A very 

 surfeit of satisfaction can be ensured to those who long 

 for roses in profusion by planting the types of China or 

 monthly roses in their numerous varieties and various 

 shades of color. Some years ago the members of the 

 China rose class were very limited in number, but 

 through tlic aid of modern travellers and the experienced 

 hybridizer wc have now a large collection to chose from. 



The Chinese have at least 24 distinct species cf the 

 genus rosa and innumerable varieties are grown from 

 kinds with tiny white flowers, like buttons, to gigantic 

 flowers 5 to 6 inches across. It is stated that most of 

 the distinct kinds which have at times come under our 

 notice from Japan and Burmah had their origin in the 

 older Chinese empire, and probably many of the Indi- 

 an varieties also. The Chinese with their character- 

 istic skill and patient industry, bred into some varieties 

 the quality of persistence in flowering producing what 

 we know as the ever-blooming or monthly blooming 

 sorts. Hermosa and some other types of the China class 

 are worthy the attention of the experienced hybridizer 

 to increase the flowering season of this most loved of 

 all flowers. In collections of hardy ros9S there are 

 many other types of remarkable beauty and with long 

 histories attached to their kinds. The old damask rose 

 known as the York and Lancaster holds a place in his- 

 tory which will stand for all time. This variety bears 

 large semi-double flowers of a pale flesh color, and some 

 almost white, with briglit carmine stripes on the petals, 

 and is of very free growth. Another class of roses 

 which has been under cultivation for nearly 400 years 

 but which no one seems to think is worthy of recog- 

 nition in hybridizing, is the Austrian Briars. These 

 were brought into cultivation between A. D. 1500 and 

 A. D. IGOO by a famous old grower named John Gerarde, 

 who was said to have the largest and best collection of 

 roses in the world at that time. 



John H. Cox. 



