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56 



The Florists^ Review 



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Skptember 8, 1920 



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I Pacific Coast Department 



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CATTLEYAS IN CAUFOKNIA. 



California seems able to provide 

 proper growinjj conditions for almost 

 any flower, including orchids. The ap- 

 pearance of the orchid, Cattleya gigas, 

 which is shown in the accompanying il- 

 lustration and which comes from the 

 greenhouses of Wright's Flower Shop, 

 Los Angeles, suggests a distinctly fa- 

 vorable environment. 



While terrestrial orchids, like the 

 cypripediums, have no season of rest, 

 the epiphytal kinds, such as cattleyas, 

 have a rest period of varying length, 

 sometimes a quite short one. During 

 this period, however, care should be 

 taken to see that the roots do not be- 

 come dry; in the American climate it is 

 not necessary to resort to drying in or- 

 der to attain ripening, as do the Eu- 

 ropean cultivators. The resting period 

 of Cattleya gigas, as one of the Colom- 

 bian orchids, is short, because of the 

 short rainy and dry seasons of the coun- 

 try from which it comes. Consequently 

 Cattleya gigas, like C. Gaskelliana and 

 C. Harrisoniee, will produce flowers from 

 the new pseudobulbs as soon as the 

 growth is finished. Cattleya gigas is 

 one of the summer-blooming species, 

 flowering in June and July, with C. 

 aurea and between C. Warneri and C. 

 Gaskelliana. 



GSOWING THE GODFREY CALLA. 



In an article in The Eeview Sep- 

 tember 2, 1915, the editor predicted 

 that the Godfrey calla would eventually 

 supersede our old favorite, Calla sethi- 

 opica, giving its history from the orig- 

 inator, Godfrey & Sons, England, and 

 the report of the well-known American 

 introducer, E. G. Hill, together with 

 some wholesome advice to growers about 

 its value and proper care. Today the 

 true Godfrey calla, properly grown, is 

 so much superior to spthiopica that the 

 j)rophetic statement of The Review is 

 rapidly being realized. The demand for 

 Godfrey is keeping ahead of the produc- 

 tion, the only disappointment being due 

 to inferior stock or to improper han- 

 dling. 



As the originator stated in the article 

 mentioned, the Godfrey is a cross be- 

 tween Little Gem and a;thiopica. A 

 large number of seedlings were raised, 

 from which two were selected, one God- 

 frey and the other devoniensis. Both 

 bloom much earlier and with greater 

 freedom than the older florists' variety, 

 producing three times as many flowers. 

 The Godfrey is taller and more robust 

 than devoniensis and has a larger 

 flower. Some of the stocks of these two 

 varieties became liadly mixed, as the 

 growers in Guernsey and Jersey raised 

 a large number of seedlings, which were 

 sold extensivelv for the true variety. 



E. G. Hill brought the Godfrey to 

 this country about 1908. "It is a beau- 

 tiful improvement over the old sethi- 

 opica in color, texture and general 

 refinement," the E. G. Hill Co. said. 

 "When it is 7iroper]y benched it gives 

 extra large blooms, but is seen at its 

 best in 6-inch or R inch pots, where 

 blooms of medium size are freely 

 borne." 



It will be noted that the stems of the 



Godfrey calla are smaller, though fully 

 as long and as strong as the older type. 

 This enhances the graceful effect of the 

 flower. 



When we began to grow Godfrey 

 callas in California, we had to master 

 many costly problems. The investment 

 in stock alone amounted to over $6,000 

 before the true type had been selected 

 and established on a commercial basis, 

 but we are now able to grow and cure 

 the highest-grade stock possible to pro- 

 duce. 



We dig and pack for shipment at 

 about the end of August. When the 

 bulbs reach their destination they should 

 be potted and benched at once; 1-inch 

 or 1^-inch Godfrey calla bulbs should 

 be potted in 4-inch pots and kept dark 

 until well rooted. Soil rich in humus 

 and retentive of moisture should be 



Cattleya Gigas. 



used. Tliey are gross feeders and will 

 respond profitably to bone meal and 

 liquid manure and can be brought along 

 to G-inch iK)ts. Three bulbs in an 8-inch 

 pot make a fine showing. A carnation 

 temperature and a light Ix-nch near the 

 glass j)ro(luco the best blooms. 



H. A. Hvde. 



TO ROOT POINSETTIAS. 



What is tlie best way to root poin- 

 settia cuttings in southern California? 



T. J.— Cal. 



Quite as much depends upon the j)rep- 

 aration of the stock plants and cuttings 

 as upon the method of rooting them. 

 The quickest and best way to work up 

 stock in soutliern California is to ]»ro- 

 cure last season's stems and cut them 



in lengths of about eight inches, early 

 in the season. Dip the ends in warm, 

 dry sand and dry them a little; then 

 place closely in flats of sandy soil or 

 on a propagating bench. When growth 

 has reached about two inches, cut the 

 young shoots off and immerse them in 

 water for about fifteen minutes to check 

 bleeding. Insert them in a well pre- 

 pared sand bed over a moderate bottom 

 heat and shade lightly until they show 

 by picking up and stiffening the foliage 

 that they are rooted. This simple 

 method is all that is required and the 

 young plants must be potted before they 

 make much root, handling them quickly 

 and giving them slight shade until re- 

 established. 



Clean sand that has been lying in the 

 sun for a month is best and it is safest 

 not to use the sand more than once, 

 especially if any fungus appears. The 

 cuttings will continue to produce safe 

 shoots for propagating for several weeks 

 or even months if carefully handled and 

 they can afterwards be jiotted and will 

 make fairlv good plants for basket 

 work. H. K. R. 



liOS ANGELES, CAL. 



The Market. 



With the short supply of asters and 

 gladioli, good shipping stock is scarcer 

 than ever this week and shippers have 

 found great difficulty in filling their 

 orders. Carnations are the only flow- 

 ers that are up to the demand and these 

 are higher in price than usual at this 

 time of the year. A shortage of roses 

 has again developed and all of these 

 that come in are quickly disposed of. 

 Retailers are able to get most of the 

 stock they need for funeral work, but 

 flowers for high-class trade are hard to 

 get. A few chrysanthemums are in, 

 but they are not yet in good condition 

 for long-distance shipping, though bet- 

 ter than usual for so early in the sea- 

 son. Greens are more plentiful than 

 for some time and business in general 

 keeps up well for the season. 



Various Notes. 



At Wolfskins' & Morris Goldeuson's. 

 funeral work has kept up well; there 

 were two fine palls among the orders in 

 one day recently. Albert Goldenson 

 has just returned from a pleasant 

 week's trip to Catalina and he looks 

 better as a result of the rest. 



There is a magnificent show of all 

 kinds of flowers just now at the home 

 place of Howard & Smith, at Monte- 

 bello. Asters are a leading feature; the 

 large breadths already rogued out for 

 seed-saving make a most attractive dis- 

 play in all colors. The cannas, too, are 

 wonderfully showy now, some splendid 

 new varieties being seen, while large 

 breadths of the pale blue Delphinium 

 Belladonna, aquilegias and other varie- 

 ties go toward making a most choice 

 and attractive showing. 



Xew-crop roses from the establish- 

 ment of Roy F. Wilcox are making a 

 strong impression on the market. When 

 they get into their stride, these roses 

 of the new planting will break the 

 record for this place. 



