152 



THE FLORISTS' MANUAL. 



Cattleyas Mounted in Various Ways. 



preceding, only differing in color, 

 which is white, with crimson eye. 



Calanthe lutea, a beautiful variety, 

 with fine spikes of white and lemon 

 colored flowers. 



CATTLEYA. This genus is un- 

 doubtedly one of the best for commer- 

 cial purposes, on account of its easy 

 culture and the varied and extreme 

 beauty of its flowers, which are pro- 

 duced at all times of the year and al- 

 ways find a ready sale in the large 

 cities. Most of the species can be suc- 

 cessfully grown where a temperature 

 of 55 to 60 degrees can be maintained 

 during winter. They can be grown in 

 either pots or baskets, and many will 

 do well on blocks of wood suspended 

 from the roof, if the room is limited. 

 All cattleyas like a strong light and 

 should be grown as near the glass as 

 possible, with but little shading and a 



moderate supply of water, even in 

 their growing season. By keeping 

 them a little on the dry side, you in- 

 sure stronger growth and better flow- 

 ers. Have plenty of air and moisture 

 around them and you will seldom if 

 ever fail to be satisfied with the re- 

 sults. Pot in a well drained pot or 

 basket in good, fibrous peat, with all 

 the decayed vegetable matter removed, 

 and some clean, live sphagnum moss. 

 For blocks use a little peat at the back 

 and fasten firmly with copper wire. 

 Of course, plants grown in this way 

 must be watched, that they do not 

 suffer from lack of water, as they dry 

 out much quicker than when in pots or 

 baskets. The resting season of a cat- 

 tleya commences as soon as they have 

 finished their growth, when water 

 must be withheld enough to just keep 

 the plant from shriveling. The white 

 scale is an enemy of the plants, and if 



allowed to accumulate, will soon de- 

 stroy the best of specimens. 



Cattleya gigas, one of the finest spe- 

 cies, from New Granada, has fine, bold 

 spikes of beautifully marked flowers, 

 pale rose and crimson, and yellow 

 blotched throat. Blooms in April or 

 May. 



Cattleya labiata, one of the very 

 best, from Brazil, with beautiful rose 

 and crimson flowers, which come iu 

 November and December. This variety 

 grows best in a pot. 



Cattleya Mendelii, a beautiful species 

 from South America, flowers in April 

 or May. Color white and crimson; 

 will do well in a basket, and on no 

 account over-pot this variety. 



Cattleya Mossiae. This fine, old spe- 

 cies is perhaps the best known of this 

 genus, and should be in every collec- 

 tion. It blooms in early spring and 

 lasts a long time in perfection if kept 

 cool and dry. It will do well on a 

 block if room is limited, and, suspend- 

 ed among the palms, will grow finely. 



Cattleya Trianae. This is one of the 

 most extensively grown species of the 

 genus. Flowering as it does during 

 the autumn and winter months, it is a 

 general favorite with all; can be 

 grown on a block. 



Cattleya Percivaliana is a fine win- 

 ter flowering variety from South 

 America, grows best in a basket or 

 pot, profuse bloomer under proper 

 treatment; should be in every collec- 

 tion. % J - 



Cattleya Bowringiana, a magnificent 

 species, producing on one spike as 

 many as twelve or fifteen blooms or 

 rosk pink color, with crimson lip. It 

 should be grown in a pot with plenty 

 of room, as it is a very strong grower. 



Cattleya crispa, a fine species, very 

 free flowering, producing fine spikes 

 of beautiful, pure white flowers, with 

 crimson lip and throat. Blooms in 

 July or August, and will grow well in 

 a basket suspended from the roof. 



OOFJLOGYNE. 'This genus has many 

 species and varieties, though very few 

 are of much value to the commercial 

 florist. The most useful is the beauti- 

 ful 



Coelogyne cristata grandiflora, which 

 produces its graceful racemes of white 

 flowers with yellow blotches on throat 

 in early spring. This plant is of com- 

 paratively easy culture. It likes abun- 

 dance of water during its growing sea- 

 son, which lasts till the bulbs have 

 matured, when water should be with- 

 held until the flower spikes are well 

 advanced; otherwise they will start 

 growing again instead of blooming. 

 This species grows best in pots or 

 pans, giving the plants plenty of room 

 and good drainage. Elevate the bulbs 

 on a compost of good fibrous peat, 

 broken charcoal, or potsherds about 

 the size of hazel nuts, and sphagnum 

 moss, and finish off with live sphag- 

 num as a top dressing. Potting should 

 be done as soon as the flowering sea- 

 son is over. This plant will do well 

 in a night temperature of 50 to 55 

 degrees in winter. 



