764 



H R T I C U L T U K E 



December 9, 1916 



final potting a compost consisting of loam three parts, 

 dry cow manure one part, leaf mold one-third part, sand 

 and charcoal finely broken up will suit them. 



When coming into flower, they will do better in a 

 temperature of from 55 to 60 degrees at night, and 

 will last longer in flower than if grown in a warmer 

 temperature. After flowering the plants should be cut 

 .,back to within 6 or'8 inches of the base of the stems, and 

 placed in a house with a temperature of 50 degrees, only 

 giving' tliem sufficient water to keep them in a green 

 condition until spring. 



^."^ 



7 



Sorifhhoro, Mass'. 



Iberis 



Reiterating the merits of Iberis umbellata, the iuiiiual 

 candytuft, on the pages of Horticultl'ke would be 

 equal to an indirect attempt to throw doubt on the in- 

 telligence of its readers. Known for ages as standard 

 material for edging, we simply look at the various colors 

 of annual candytufts as indispensable, especially for in- 

 expensive floral garden arrays. To direct the attention 

 to the hardy perennial class of iberis, however, seems to 

 me by no means untimely. The fact of their rapid gain 

 in popularity among hardy flower garden owners is 

 plainly evident. During z\pril and May wlien covered 

 with snow white or lavoiider-shaded flowers they attract 

 attention at once. After having added conspicuously in 

 the vernal floral effect the dark evergreen foliage re- 

 mains and the border-edges or plantations of hardy 

 candytufts appear clean and presentable during the re- 

 mainder of the year. Tiie scope of usefulness of peren- 

 nial iberis is, however, not limited to edging purposes 

 and border-plaTitings. They class among the best ma- 

 terial adapted for dry walls and rockgardens ; indeed 

 here wc could afford omitting them at all. The natural 

 consequence is an ever increasing demand for hardy 

 candytufts. 



In regard to varieties I am inclined to put the well 

 known Iberis sempervirons in the lead as the hardiest 

 pure white one. Perfection, Snowflake and superba 

 as improved sempervirens are distinguishable by more 

 or less larger flowers. Little Gem, identical with 

 Weisser Zwerg, a very handsome compact and dwarfy 

 variety, is the ideal thing for rockery use. The subject 

 of our illustration, Tbpris cdrreaefolia when true to name 



opens pure white, turning to light purple during the 

 last stages of blooming. Forming shapely bushes of 

 from one to two feet in height, tlie branches woody, 

 Iberis gibraltarica according to my observation is best 

 adapted for the hardy border. Adorned with flowers of 

 light lavender pink nearly throughout the whole sum- 

 mer, it is the first to suffer in winter and requires care- 

 ful protection. 



Idebis correaefolia. 



Hardy candytufts are best raised from seed sown in 

 spring. Seedlings flower the second year. For perfect 

 devcldpnicnt, plantations should have an open sunny 

 exposure. I'nder leaf-cover I have, as a rule, had very 

 few plants winterkilled, but I take care not to have the 

 green tops exposed to the sun during February and 

 March. 



Glenside, Pa. 



-^iMyCLAxiSxMjiy 



Cypridedium insigne Sandrae 



Cypripedium nisi.yne luis long heen a favorite Clirist- 

 mas flower. It '"niakos up"' cil'eetively in combination 

 with anything and everything in cut flower work or 

 plant baskets and will practically outlive all the other 

 flowers used with it. It is gratifying that the chaste 

 and lovely pale yellow variety which is depicted on the 

 cover page of this issue of lioirncuLTrRE has now be- 

 come plentiful enough to be obtainable in quantity as a 

 cut flower for commercial florists' use. It sells at whole- 

 sale for six dollars a dozen blooms when the ordinary 

 insigne brings about a dollar and a half per dozen, and 

 it is worth the difference to any florist catering to an 

 exclusive trade. 



NEXT WEEK 



YOU HAVE 



ANOTHER 



CHANCE 



To turn over your surplus 

 stock. An advertisement in 

 December 16th issue of 

 Horticulture will catch the 

 late buyers for Christmas 

 Stock. 



YOU HAVE 



ANOTHER 



CHANCE 



NEXT WEEK 



