156 PRACTICAL PLANT PROPAGATION 



stigma. In these flowers which were self -pollinated by hand, it was 

 found that while the ovary might develop, the seeds produced were 

 very few with a weak germination and the seedlings produced sickly 

 plants. 



"When the flower bud was about ready to open it was emasculated 

 (i. e., the stamens were removed) and as soon as the pistil was recep- 

 tive, which condition was indicated by the appearance of a sticky mate- 

 rial on the surface of the stigma, the desired pollen was applied. Lilies 

 are seldom pollinated by insects in greenhouses, but as a precautionary 

 measure, the flowers were covered with paper sacks for a few days 

 before the stigmas became receptive and after being cross-pollinated. 



"After pollination the flowers soon withered and the ovary increased 

 in size rapidly. During the Spring the seed pods matured in about 

 two months." 



ORCHIDS 



Orchids were not extensively propagated before Quarantine 37 was 

 imposed, but were collected from the wild. They may, however, be 

 increased by division, cuttings and seeds. All Orchids are propagated 

 at the beginning of their growing seasons. 



Division and cuttings. The rarer sorts bearing pseudo-bulbs, such 

 as Cattleya, Odontcglossum, Ccelogyne, may be propagated by division 

 in which the rhizome is cut partially through. Two or three .pseudo- 

 bulbs are best left beyond the growing point. The cut will cause the 

 forcing of an adventitious bud upon the older wood. The old portion 

 is then removed and potted separately. With Calanthe Veitchii the 

 old bulbs may be removed when potting in Spring, and placed in pans 

 of sphagnum moss until they start to grow, when they may be potted. 



Dendrobium canes may be cut into four- to five-inch lengths or the 

 whole cane may be laid on wet sphagnum. New growths will often 

 start from the eyes. Aerides and Vanda are propagated by cuttings 

 of the upper portion of the stem, which is about a foot long and supplied 

 with roots. The old stems will usually produce shoots readily. Cypri- 

 pedium plants are best divided between old growths and potted sep- 

 arately, leaving an older growth with each lead. Provide abundant 

 moisture in starting them. Masdevallia and allied genera are propa- 

 gated like Cypripedium. 



Orchids from seed. The seeds of Orchids are very fine and dust-like. 

 Some pods contain over 500,000 seeds. Great care is necessary in 

 growing them successfully. Several years ago it was discovered that 

 the tiny seedlings only grow when a certain fungus is present. This 

 fungus is found in the pots or baskets of most Orchids, so that it is not 

 difficult to obtain, and if a plant is kept in the seedling frame, the fungus 

 usually spreads to the seedlings.* It takes patience to grow Orchids 

 from seed because few of them bloom in less than five years; it may 

 even require ten years. John E. Lager, f a successful Orchid specialist, 

 describes the sowing of Cattleya seeds as follows: 



"Cattleyas, as, like most other Orchids, are unable to fertilize them- 

 selves, hence the fertilization must be accomplished by insects. The 

 seed pods should be left on the plants until well ripened; when they 



* Refer to Stand. Cyclop, of Hort. under Orchids for full account of seedlings. 



t Lager, John E. The Seeding of Cattleyas, Florists' Exchange, Nov. 25, 1916, p. 1226 



