i8g8. 



' GARDENING. 



327 



ODONTOGLOSSUM ROEZLII AND VARIETY ALBA. 



be said that when an orchid hails from 

 this land of sun it, in almost every case, 

 needs abundance of light in winter to 

 mature th; growth and make it flower. 

 Our sun is too hot in summer if given in 

 its entire strength, but in winter is neces- 

 sary in its full power. Many growers dry 

 0. citrosmum almost to death to induce it 

 to bloom, and this is a mistake. Give the 

 growth sun and air and it will flower 

 well without material injury. There are 

 many back walls in garden establish- 

 ments that might be utilized by cultivat- 

 ing some of these plants wired on blocks 

 of fern root and suspended where they 

 can get plenty of water from the hose in 

 summer; the labor will be small and the 

 returns ample, as some already in the 

 business know and can testify. 



We have a great fancy for O. grande; it 

 is an early fall blooming sort and never 

 fails to cause comments from the interest- 

 ing shape of the crest. It is easily culti- 

 vated, at least we find it so, for our 

 plants have been here for about six years 

 and are stronger than ever. This plant 

 must never be dried up or it will suffer 

 quickly. Another valuable class of plants 

 that used to be grouped with this genus is 

 the miltonias.one of which has numerous 

 admirers in M. rexillarium superbum, 

 and a whole chapter might be written on 

 it alone. Another good kind figured in 

 this issue is M. Roezlii, named in honor 

 of the intrepid collector Benedict Roezl, 

 who saw his first plants, floating down 

 stream on a log. in full bloom. Both the 

 type and the white form are very beauti- 

 ful, and they require a little more heat 

 than the others, say a palm house, with 

 plenty of moisture from the hose to keep 

 down insects, thrips especially. Under 



these conditions they will bloom freely in 



winter. 



There are many other odontoglossums 

 which are good and easy to cultivate. 

 They need lots of moisture, and if the 

 above few kinds are taken in hand, it is 

 safe to say others will follow. Always 

 pot the plants when signs of new growth 

 make their appearance, and this is when 

 new roots are emitted and seek a firm 

 hold in fresh, sweet compost, such as fern 

 root and moss in equal proportions. If 

 the plants are watered properly, the moss 

 will grow and form a healthy rooting 

 medium as well as an unfailing index as 

 to the need of water. We usually begin 

 to pot O. crispum in the month of 

 October, taking the plants most advanced 

 first. The hot da3 r s are then past and 

 the plants take hold readily without any 

 check such as would follow this opera- 

 tion earlier in the year. Of course, if an 

 orchid of any kind gets sick, it is best to 

 turn it out at once whatever the season, 

 as delay will cause the loss of the few 

 roots that remain alive. E. 



THE HARRISII LILY DISEASE. 



We are informed on excellent authority 

 that the British government has sent a 

 Kew man to Bermuda to investigate the 

 Harrisii lily disease, and if possible to 

 take such steps as will insure its eradica- 

 tion. This expert is of the opinion that 

 the mite or insect, to the presence of 

 which the disease is due, thrives in anv 

 land that is over fertilized with chemical 

 manures, and is not peculiar to Bermuda 

 or the Harrisii lily. The real trouble, he 

 claims, lies in the fact that the stockitself 

 is weakened in vitality. The bulbs in the 



past have been forced to such an extent 

 by the aid of chemical fertilizers that the 

 scales employed for propagation are 

 unable to produce healthy bulbs. New 

 stock from another source, Holland, for 

 example, it is stated, would prove suffi- 

 ciently robust to successfully resist the 

 attacks of this pest. 



Oregon Horticultural Society.— 

 The midsummer meeting was held at 

 Eugene, Ore., June 28, and was verv suc- 

 cessful. The following excellent papers 

 were read: "Fruit Evaporation," illus- 

 trated with samples, J. H. Monteith, 

 Glenada; "Requirements of Trees and 

 Fruits Upon the Moisture of the Soil," 

 Hon. John Minto; "Insect Pests," Prof. 

 A. B. Cordley, illustrated with stereopti- 

 con views, bv Prof. E. F. Pernot; "What 

 Regulates Prices," Hon. H. B. Miller, 

 Eugene; "A Word About Evaporation," 

 W. K. Allen, Newberg. 



Greene County Horticultural So- 

 ciety, Springfield, Mo.— There was a 

 large attendance and a fine display of 

 flowers, peaches and potatoes at "the 

 July meeting, held on Dewey Campus. 

 W. A. Irwin reported that there will be 

 but twenty per cent of the usual crop of 

 apples, pears and peaches. Grapes, he 

 said, were rotting and recommended 

 spraying with Bordeaux. Miss Emma J. 

 Park read an interesting paper on "Some 

 Things Horticulturists Owe Science." 

 Mrs. A. W. Howell was awarded all four 

 premiums for cut flowers. Col E. H. 

 C.rabill exhibited Industry gooseberries, 

 London red raspberries, very fine; and a 

 hybrid raspberry-blackberrv" The com- 

 mittee decided the flavor was verv fine. 



