154 



THE FLORISTS' MANUAL 



Cypripedium Insigne. 



but by following the above directions 

 you can grow it just as well as Wardi- 

 anum. It flowers in May or June, and 

 they last about two weeks in perfec- 

 tion. 



Dendrobium densiflorum is another 

 erect-growing species from India, and 

 grows best in a pot, but can be grown 

 in a basket in good fibrous peat and 

 but little sphagnum. It blooms in 

 April or May, the large clusters of 

 beautiful yellow flowers being in form 

 like a bunch of grapes. This species 

 requires a long rest after the bulbs 

 are grown, but do not allow the plant 

 to shrivel. The flowers last about a 

 week in perfection. 



LAELIA. Of this genus only two 

 species are useful to the commercial 

 grower. 



Laelia anceps. This can be well 

 grown on a block of hard wood with 

 a little fibrous peat fastened at the 

 back of the plant, which should be 

 firmly nxed on with copper wire. It 

 can also be grown in a suspended bas- 

 ket. Use a compost of good, clean 

 peat, charcoal, and live sphagnum 

 moss, and keep well drained. This is 

 a grand species, with long flower 

 spikes, which last a month if kept in 

 a cool house. Give pienty of water 

 during the growing season, which is 

 from about April to November. It is 

 a free bloomer and blooms in January 

 and February. It will grow well in a 

 cattleya house, but can be grown con- 

 siderably cooler. 



these plants, as they soon destroy 

 them if allowed to remain. 



Dendrobium Wardianum, a beautiful 

 species from Assam, is perhaps the 

 best. It is a very strong grower and 

 good bloomer if above instructions are 

 followed, but be sure you do not over- 

 pot this species, as nothing is more 

 injurious to it. It blooms in early 

 spring and lasts a long time if kept 

 cool and dry. It should be grown in 

 a basket, suspended. 



Dendrobium nobile Is a well known 

 old species from India, requiring the 

 same treatment as Wardianum, but 

 can, if necessity requires, be grown 

 cooler and kept back, or forced into 

 flower, as desired by the grower, at 

 any time from December to May. 



Dendrobium formosum giganteum, a 

 beautiful variety, differs somewhat 

 from the preceding, as it is evergreen 

 and produces its beautiful, large flow- 

 ers of pure white, with yellow blotched 

 lip on the top of the stems, from two 

 to five flowers on a spike. This va- 

 riety needs but little rest and should 

 certainly be grown in a basket and 

 suspended in the warmest house. This 

 is another sort that should never be 

 over-potted, and must always be well 

 drained. 



Dendrobium Devonianum is a mag- 

 nificent species, and is best grown in a 

 basket. Give abundance of water in 

 the growing season and freely syringe 

 the foliage at least once a day in hot 

 weather, to keep down the thrip, which 

 is particularly partial to this sort. It 

 Is by many considered hard to grow, 



Cypripedium Leucochilum Godseffianum. 



