THE FLORISTS' MANUAL. 



J53 



CYPRIPEDIUM. This peculiarly in- 

 teresting genus is . of easy culture. 

 They may be grown in either pots or 

 pans, in equal parts of good, fibrous 

 peat and live sphagnum; a little brok- 

 en charcoal is beneficial, as it pre- 

 vents the compost from becoming 

 sour. You can feed liquid manure to 

 the strong growing varieties and it 

 will materially help them if they are 

 well rooted. They like plenty of wa- 

 ter during summer, their growing sea- 

 son, and being evergreen and having, 

 no bulbs to feed from, should never 

 be allowed to suffer from lack of it. 

 Do not overshade cypripediums, as 

 they delight in a strong light. Most 

 all varieties require a warm tempera- 

 ture. The following are the best for 

 commercial purposes: 



Cypripedium insigne is a cool house 

 species, but can be grown in a warm 

 house. It is a profuse bloomer if well 

 cared for, flowers in winter, and lasts 

 a long time in perfection. It is very 

 beneficial to put it outside for three 

 months in summer, slightly shaded 

 and well watered. 



oypripedium Harrisianum, a fine 

 hybrid, often flowering twice a year, 

 is a fine bloomer and stronger grower 

 than most cypripediums, therefore re- 

 quires plenty of pot room and should 

 be grown in a warm house. 



Cypripedium Lawrenceanum, an- 

 other species requiring a warm, moist 

 atmosphere, is a good bloomer, with 

 bold, straight stems and beautifully 

 marked flower. Blooms in summer 

 and autumn; do not over-pot it. 



Cypripedium Spicerianum, which I 

 consider the queen of the genus, is a 

 very free grower and good bloomer, 

 and is a great favorite in the cut- 

 flower market. It requires a warm 



Cattleya Percivaliana. 



Coelogyne Cristata. 



temperature, flowers in early spring, 

 and lasts a long time. 



Cypripedium villosum, a grand spe- 

 cies from India; similar in color to 

 Insigne, but the flowers are much 

 larger, and have the appearance of 

 being varnished. This is a very use- 

 ful sort, as it will thrive in either a 

 cool or warm house, and should be in 

 every collection. It is a very strong 

 grower, requiring plenty of pot-room. 



DENDROBIUM. The members of 

 this genus are almost numberless, and 

 include some of the most beautiful, as 

 well as the most useful, orchids for 

 the cut - flower trade. They can be 

 grown in pots or baskets, with plenty 

 of drainage and a compost of good, 

 fibrous peat and live sphagnum, with 

 some broken charcoal or potsherds 

 mixed with it. They require a warm 

 temperature during their growing sea- 

 son, with plenty of water, but several 

 species, such as Wardianum, nobile, 

 Devonianum, etc., should be moved to 

 a cool house as soon as they have 

 stopped growing, and left there until 

 their flower buds are well advanced, 

 when they may go into a little warm- 

 er house to flower. If this treatment 

 is followed up you will be seldom, if 

 ever, disappointed in the results of 

 your labors. Watch for the thrip on 



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