300 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



branches regularly wht)rled and leaves that historic individual, aiming from 



dark green and Whitened on the under the snowy woods, bearing uj^n his 



side. genial shoulders the tree, laden with 



In the associations and traditions of good things and glittering with lanterns, 



A Spray of Leucothoe 



the Christmas tree are centred the cheery 

 and buoyant side of the festive season. 

 Prominent among these is that youthful 

 antiquity, Santa Claus. The tales of 



touches in the hearts of the children a 

 note of Christmas sentiment that will 

 never die out so long as this great annual 

 festival is observed. 



Late Flo"wering OrcKids 



r. J. Goode, Toronto 



LAiLIA purpurata and Ltclia grandis , 

 the subjects of the accompanying 

 illustrations, furnish us with two 

 orchids of exceptional merit. The first 



Lselia Grandis 



mentioned is one of the grandest 

 and most magnificent, while it is one of 

 the most robust and easily grown. The 

 bulbs are fusiform and furrowed, often 



measuring 15 inches in length, and it 

 has oblong, hght green leaves. Strong, 

 well-ripened bulbs will throw from three 

 to five flowers, which, for form and col- 

 oring, are hard to beat. Sepals and 

 petals, pure white; the lip has the base 

 lobes folded over column; throat, yel- 

 low, striped with purple. Individual 

 flowers are often five and six inches across. 

 It is one of the latest flowering laehas. 



LczUa grandis, white flowering, about 

 the same time as the former, is more 

 singular and distinct. The bulbs meas- 

 ure between eight and ten inches in 

 length, surmounted by a single, oblong, 

 acute, green leaf. It has free-flowering 

 sepals and petals with a dark fawn 

 throat. Magenta rose produces flowers 

 four to five inches across. This variety 

 will last in flower for three Weeks, if 

 kept free from damp; but, owing to its 

 lack of white, it will never become a 

 commercial rival to the Cattleyas. It 

 is, however, deserving of a place in 

 every collection. Both varieties thrive 

 well in the Cattleya house, and are ex- 

 cellent for large specimens. 



Good, fibrous peat, fresh sphagnum 

 moss, charcoal and broken crocks, form 

 the best potting material for these 

 plants. After the plants have finished 

 flowering, remove dead moss from 

 among surface roots, fresh moss being 

 pressed firmly wherever live roots are 

 exposed. Syringe lightly night arid 

 morning during hot weather. This will 



help the plant to start, and will also 

 take away that shrivelled appearance 

 caused by keeping the plants on the dry 

 side till flowering is over. It is best to 

 keep late flowering orchids as much to 

 themselves as possible during early 

 spring months, as too much water often 

 causes the plant to start its new growth, 

 which, in nine cases out of ten, prevents 

 the plant flowering. 



As soon as the new growths are about 

 two inches long, water may be given 

 more freely. It is generally conceded 

 by orchid growers, that no fertihzer may 

 be applied direct to the plants. Taking 

 this for granted, the next best thing, 

 and the one usually followed, is to throw 

 liquid manure on the floors, or benches, 

 amongst the plants. Cow or sheep 

 manure will do. This should be done 

 when closing the houses for the night, 

 thus creating a moisture and retaining 

 the strength of the fertihzer, which is 

 essential to orchid life. If this treat- 

 ment is followed for a few weeks, the 

 difference in the appearance of the plants 

 will be apparent. 



These varieties, flowering so late, often 

 the middle of June, leave only three or 

 four months to make their new bulbs. 

 The more attention you give to these 

 plants during that time, the better you 

 will be rewarded by having good, strong 

 bulbs. These mean plenty of the most 

 beautiful flowers grown the following 



Lselia Purpurata 



spring, which will recompense you for 

 the extra trouble you have taken. 



If you subscribe for The Canadian 

 Horticulturist on the 13th of the 

 month or on any other day, you will be 

 lucky ever>' day'that it continues to come. 



