October 6, 1906 



H O RT 1 CULTl; 



367 



Dendrobium formosum giganteum 



I)ondrobiuin formosum giganteum is tlic most pop- 

 ular of the nigro-hirsute forms of dendrobium and per- 

 haps the easiest to cultivate. The black-hairy species of 



dendrobium all deteriorate under cultivation and D. 

 formosum giganleuiii is no exception; however by good 

 iroatment a plant may be kept in good condition, and 

 may flower evei-^' season for a number of years. The 

 straight species formosum, of which giganteum is a 

 variety, I have never seen nor is it ofEered in any deal- 

 er's price list and 1 doubt if there is any difference 

 lietvvwn the species and its variety. 



Its chief requirements are plenty of heat and moisture 

 when growing. The growing season is short, the 

 pseudo-bullis reaching maturity in about three months, 

 tlie flowers produced in apical clusters terminating the 

 growth. The flowers are large, pure white, with a large 

 >-tain of yellow on the lip, which varies in intensity in 

 different plants, but is usually a rich orange. It is a 

 native of Burmah, where it is subjected to a long spell 

 of dry weather, and should only be given enough water 

 during the resting period to prevent shrivelling. Plenty 

 of light at all times is essential. 



It may be grown in baskets or perforated pans which 

 should be as small as possible, the best rooting medium 

 l)eing pure fern root and charcoal. During the growing 

 season and especially after the pan or basket is fairly 

 well filled with roots a liberal amount of liquid stimu- 

 lant may be given. 



Is the Dahlia of Value to the Flower Grower ? 



I do not think this question has received the proper 

 amount of consideration and attention at the hands of 

 the florist fraternity. Most attempts so far to introduce 

 the dahlia into the cut flower market have origimited 

 from growers making a specialty of growing dahlias for 

 the purpose of selling the tuljers. The right introduc- 

 tion could not be expected from these sources for the 

 following reasons: As a rule a dahlia grower grows 

 great numbers of plants of a very limited variety, par- 

 ticularly of the well-known established sorts, which are 

 more or less common, well advertised, and particularly 

 adapted for garden bedding, ft is far from me to give 

 the impression that such varieties would not be suitable 

 for cutting, on the contrary I consider them very profit- 

 able as in most eases they are selected on account of 

 their productiveness in quantities of flowers. My objec- 

 tion is based only on the point that these varieties pro- 

 duce invariably the impression of commonness. Varie- 

 ties which winild be suitalile for the purpose of intro- 

 ducing this flower to the best class of florists in this 

 country are grown in small quantities only, as they are 

 of more recent introduction and consequently rather 

 •expensive. Another important point to consider is that 

 with the dahlia grower these varieties are grown for 

 the purpose of exhibiting cut flowers at the various 

 flower shows and fairs, where they are put up for an 

 advertisement and a chance to liook orders for root de- 

 liveries the following spring. Such a grower could 

 not afford to rob his plants of the best products nor 

 cut the flowers with sufficient lengths of stems to make 

 them a saleable material for the retail florist. For some 

 time a doubt existed in my mind whether dahlias had 

 sufficient individual qualities that would enable them to 

 be favorably received with the more prosperous class of 

 flower lovers and thus a demand created. This doubt 



has been entirely removed by two experiences which 

 have come to me through my line of work. Some time 

 this fall our firm exhibited a great number of choice 

 and rare varieties of cactus dahlias at a fashionable re- 

 sort near Boston. The ladies attending the exhibition 

 had only words of admiration for them. Shortly after 

 this we received a communication from a society lady 

 who attended our exhibit inquiring if we could supply 

 her with sufficient flowers for a table decoration to be 

 used at a large dinner party. We gladly consented, 

 and as a result applications were far more numerous 

 than we welcomed, as our supply gave out. These din- 

 ner decorations are now a subject of discussion in society 

 circles and the eventual result can hardly be- foretold. 



Another exjx;riment of a similar nature has produced 

 the same result. Through a ])ersonal interview one of 

 the foremost retail florists of New York consented to 

 make an effective display of dahlias in his show-win- 

 dows. The prices realized were equal to those of fancy 

 roses at the present market and I feel the greatest con- 

 fidence in predicting a glorious future for the dahlia. 



A word of advice to those who are anticipating the 

 growing of dahlias for the cut flower market. It is 

 most esscTitial that proper attention should be given to 

 the selectiim of the varieties for this purpose. As sec- 

 retary of the newly-formed dahlia society I have the 

 interest of that flower at heart and I .shall be only too 

 glad to reply to the readers of Horticulture through 

 its columns to all questions brought forward, as well as 

 mv abilitv permits nie. 



Secretary American Dahlia Society. 



^Z^ 



