Orphium 



( 147 ) 



Osmites 



ORPHIUM. 



Greenhouse shrub (ord. Gentianea;). Propaga- 

 tion, by cuttings in sandy peat beneath a bell- 

 glass. Soil, three parts fibrous peat, one part fibrous 

 lo;ini, with coarse sand. 



Principal Species : 



frutesceiis, K', Jy., red 

 /A. Chirouia aiigusti- 



of Jtotfttticftl M<ltfft;ii/r 



7(17, and C. frutescens 



folia of liittintti-iil .!///</- of Botanical Magazine 



u:\ne SIS, C. decussa'ta 37). 



ORTGIESIA. 



Greenhouse or stove perennials (ord. Bromeli- 

 acere). Propagation, by suckers. Soil, light fibrous 

 loam and leaf mould. 



Principal Species : 

 tillandsioides, 1', aut., red. 



ORTHOCARPUS. 



Half-hardy annuals from California (ord. Scroph- 

 uliirineae). Propagated by seeds in light soil 

 over a hotbed. Plant in light, rich soil and a 

 warm situation. 



Principal Species : 



crianthus roseus, 1', Je., purpurascens, 6" to 12", 



creamy wh. to pur. (/ sum., crim., pk., or 



Triphysaria versicolor). pur. 



ORTHOCERAS. 



A uenus of small Orchids (ord. Orchidacea;), 

 from Australia and New Zealand. They are ter- 

 restrial species, propagated by division, and best 

 grown in a cool greenhouse under conditions 

 similar to those suitable for Disas. 



Principal Species : 



strictum, l.V, aut., greenish yel. 



ORTHOSIPHON. 



Greenhouse and stove herbaceous or shrubby per- 

 ennials (ord. Labiate), Propagation, by division 

 for the former, and by cuttings for both. Soil, 

 fibrous peat and sandy loam. 



Principal Species : 

 incurvus, 1', My., st. ev., shr., pur. (syn. vir- 



red. gatus). 



rubicundus, 1', Je., grh. stamiueus, 2', Jy., lil. 



ORYZA. 



Stove Grasses (ord. Gramineae), whose value lies 

 in their economic rather than in their horticultural 

 properties. They may be readily grown in a stove, 

 in pots or pans of loamy soil that are placed in or 

 under warm water when growth is vigorous. The 

 chief species is sativa, which produces the Rice of 

 commerce, a cereal in common use in this country, 

 and one of far more importance than Wheat in 

 many large areas of China, India, and the East 

 Indies. 



OSBECKIA. 



Stove deciduous and evergreen shrubs (ord. 

 Melastomaceae). Propagation, by cuttings of firm 



(>rtijiria (xee 

 (Irtlioi-hihis (see Eitlopltia). 

 OrtliHpoi/on, (xee Oplismenns). 

 Ortlutftemma (nee Pentas). 

 Oriliii.ilcmini (xee Feijoa). 

 Orrala (see La miii m). 

 Osayc Apple (xee Machira). 

 Osbecliiastriim (see Disxotit). 



shoots in sandy peat, beneath a bell-glass over 

 bottom heat. Soil, fibrous peat, sandy loam, and 

 a little dry manure. 



Principal Species : 



aspera, 2', Jy. , red or octandra, H', Ap., ro. 



pur. (syn. Melastoma os- 



chiuensis, 2', Jy., pur. beckioides). 



uupaleusis, 2', Je., ro. parvifolia, 2', Aug., ro. , 



pur. yel. (nyn. zeylanica). 



albiflora, wh. stellata, 2', Aug., pk. 



Other Species : 



rostrata, 1J', Je., ro. pk. umlaasiana (now Dissotis 

 rubicunda, 14', Jy., pur. incana). 



wightiaua, H', sum., pur. 



OSIER. 



The long, slender, and flexible growths of the 

 commonest o English Willows (Salix viminalis) 

 are known commercially as Osiers, but the same 

 title is given to other species of Willow when 

 grown in the same way as the Common Osier. It 

 is in the manufacture of hampers and, indeed, 

 nearly all basket and wicker work that these 

 Willow wands are so valuable. The smaller 

 growths frequently serve a different purpose, being 

 utilised by market growers in bunching Greens, 

 Turnips, Carrots, etc., in making up bundles or 

 rolls of Celery, Rhubarb, and Leeks, and even for 

 fastening fruit trees to stakes. Osier cultivation is 

 not a difficult matter by the sides of rivers and 

 streams, or wherever an abundance of moisture is 

 at hand, provided the soil is not clayey or sour. 

 Alluvial soil that is just flooded at high water is the 

 best that can be selected, and familiar examples 

 are found in the Osier beds of the Thames and 

 Severn valleys, and the Osier holts of the Fen 

 districts. The land is first cleared and broken up, 

 and then, in ITebruary, cuttings about l^' long are 

 planted 1' to li' apart, in rows H' to 2' asunder; 

 too much room should not be given, or the Osiers 

 will not be as long, slender, and unbranched as the 

 grower would wish. After planting, little atten- 

 tion is necessary beyond weeding the first season, 

 and the annual cutting down of growth after leaf 

 fall. 



If brown Osiers are needed, the growths are 

 dried and stacked, after sorting, but for white or 

 peeled Osiers the rods are placed upright with 

 their bases in a few inches of water, in a sort of 

 ditch, where they remain until they commence to 

 blossom, when they are removed and peeled. 



The chief Osiers are the Common (Salix vimin- 

 alis). Fine Basket (S. rubra forbyana), Golden 

 (S. alba vitellina), Ornard (S. rubra), and Spaniard 

 Rod (S. triandra). 



OSMANTHUS. 



Hardy and half-hardy evergreen shrubs (ord. 

 Oleacese). Propagation, by cuttings in sandy peat, 

 or by grafting. Soil, fibrous loam and sand. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 



americanus, 6', Je., wh. look well in large beds 



Aquifolium,4', Aug.,wh.; or masses ; myrtifolius 



a handsome shr. is a spineless form. 



illicifolius, a distinct fragrans, 8', sum., wh. 

 var., represented by (*//. Olea fragrans). 

 broad - leaved, pur.- Useful for pot culture 

 leaved, and wh. varie- on account of its delight- 

 gated forms, all of which ful perfume. Not quite 



hdy. in cold districts. 

 OSMITES. 



Greenhouse evergreens (ord. Composite). Propa- 

 gation, by cuttings of half-ripened wood in sand 



