286 



HORTICULTURE 



September 15, 1906 



the conditions permit, a temperature of from 45_to 50 

 degrees should be maintained. Very often at this sea- 

 son of the year changeable weather prevails. On cool 

 nights we can regulate our temperature by fire heat but 

 on iossy warm nights when the outside temperature is 

 higher'^than we -n-iint it for inside it is then that the 

 adverse conditions must be met by free ventilation and 

 a little fire heat to dry up the dampness. At no time 

 should the ventilators be closed tight, otherwise the 

 moisture that would have escaped through the venti- 

 lators will fall on the flowers and damping will be the 

 result. By the middle of October a very light shading 

 of whitewash is beneficial ; it helps to break the strong 

 rays of the sun, keeps the temperature lower and in- 

 sures a better color in the flowers. 



In nest week's issue I will have something to say 

 about small bush plants for commercial purposes. 



^iQ/,a^ 01 /^^^ 



Rose House Wisdom 



About a year ago I wrote an article in Horticulture 

 on the necessity of starting fires early for the preven- 

 tion of condensation on the roses. I think more has 

 been written on this point than almost any other and 

 yet every year there are some who fall into the trap. 

 That delightful and practical writer, Mr. John N. May, 

 wrote this warning many years ago and, in talkmg of 

 that gentleman, his writings were of the most practical 

 I ever have read— good sense, coupled with practical 

 experience— two things which count largely in any 

 business. The trade papers have been a god-send to 

 many and a blessing to all and the careful reader of 

 the trade pajDers always has found something interest- 

 ing and instructive. They have helped us all, and the 

 man who will say he has never read anything helpful m 

 the horticultural trade papers or who knows so much 

 that he don't have to get any more information— that 

 man has no business on this planet; he had better try 

 some missionary work elsewhere. In conversation with 

 d gentleman last winter— a man of national promi- 

 nence, one who has had experience in answering ques- 

 tions for trade papers— he said it would surprise many 

 to see the questions asked, signed by the firms and 

 using their jirinted paper showing them to be in the 

 business, and some were not youngsters at that. In 

 my apprenticeship days it was counted almost a sin to 

 have any booklearning concerning the business; when a 

 man found out anything practical the find was zealously 

 guarded. Now the change; advice is given on .Imost 

 any subject; if you are sick the craft knows it; and 

 wlien you shuffle off this mortal coil your picture— if 

 you ever had one taken — is put in to show your brother 

 "florists what you looked like. 



It was left for Palmer, a commercial gardener to go 

 to Dayton to tell the private gardener what he ought to 

 be and how he ought to act. It seems very strange 

 that there couldn't be found a private gardener in 

 learned Boston to take up the subject, but probably the 

 private gardener will next be given a chance to tell us 

 what a commercial gardener ought to he and how he 

 ought to act ; then we shall get the bard's meaning 

 "0 wad some power the giftie gie us," etc. 



Rodriguezia venusta 



'^«^.^-<«- 



Eodriguezia veinista Keichb. Z. synonymous with 

 Burlingtonia venusta Lindl is one of the few species of 

 this genius wliicli are of any particular horticultural 

 value. Unlike most of the Rodriguezias, which are 

 usually loose and straggling R. venusta has a compact 

 habit. 



The flowers liavo a delicate fragrance, are white with 

 a blotch of yellow on the labellum. Sometimes they 

 come from the base of a half matured growth and some- 

 times not until the pseudo-bulb is fully matured, con- 

 sequently there is no definite flowering season. Eod- 

 riguezia venusta is described in certain European works 

 and is also being sent out by European and American 

 dealers under the name of Burlingtonia fragrans, so 

 that buyers unless the purchase is made personally 

 while the plant is in flower cannot be sure if they will 

 get B. fragrans Lindl which according to American 

 nomenclature should be Rodriguezia fragrans, and 

 which has erect flower spikes, or R. venusta which is 

 more desirable and has pendulous scapes. 



Rodriguezias are natives of tropical South America 

 and should be grown in a shady, moist, warm green- 

 house near the glass and where they can be syringed 

 frequently when growing. 



They may be kept somewhat drier in winter Init must 

 not be allowed to shrivel. A lookout should be kept for 

 thrips on the young growths, and on the young flower 

 scapes. The plants succeed best in baskets in fern 

 roots and charcoal. 



Nearly all the species have a peculiar haljit of Hirow- 

 ing up roots amongst tbo foliage which usually branch 

 and somewhat detract from the appearance of the plant. 



