= '^T. '••••^r's"' ■ 



April 20, 1905. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



J3I5 



Cattleya Trianae with Forty-siz Flowers, Grown by Thomas Howdeiit Whitinsville, Mass. 



STREPTOCARPUSES. 



Few plants that are cultivated under 

 glass have been so improved, or have ris- 

 en so high in public favor during recent 

 years as the streptocarpuses, and, consid- 

 ering the length of time well-grown spec- 

 imens continue to flower, the great vari- 

 ety of colors, and the ease with which 

 they are produced when their culture is 

 well understood, this is not at all to be 

 wondered at. Not only are they extreme- 

 ly beautiful and attractive as pot plants, 

 but their value for supplying cut flowers 

 can hardly be over-estimated, as they re- 

 main in a perfectly fresh condition for 

 a considerable length of time, and also 

 make very pleasing table decorations 

 when suitable colors are selected, and 

 appropriate foliage is used. The flower- 

 ing season ranges over a considerable 

 period, and, indeed, it is safe to say that 

 by exercising a certain amount of care 

 and forethought, there is no reason why 

 streptocarpuses may not be had in flower 

 every month in the year. 



Streptocarpuses are frequently treated 

 too much like stove plants, and when this 

 is so I have never seen satisfactory re- 

 sults. A greenhouse temperature is what 

 they require, and old plants, which have 

 been flowering through the summer, 

 should be afforded a season of rest for 

 two or three months during winter. 

 I have found no more suitable place for 

 them at this season than shelves near the 

 glass in cool houses, giving sufficient 

 water only to prevent the foliage from 

 flagging severely. 



Raising Seedlings. 



Seed may be sown either in early 

 spring or late autumn. For choice, I pre- 



fer the New Year, either the end of Jan- 

 uary or beginning of February, as the 

 seedlings will then make good plants by 

 the end of summer, and will, if required, 

 continue to flower all through the winter. 

 The seed being very minute, extreme care 

 should be taken at the time of sowing. A 

 fine, light, gritty compost should be pre- 

 pared, and well-drained pots or pans 

 should be used. Make this moderately 

 firm, and scatter the seed thinly over the 

 surface. Very little, if any, soil should 

 be placed over it, but the seed should be 

 pressed in firmly with something with an 

 even surface. Place the pots or pans in 

 a vessel of water, up to the rim, till the 

 whole of the soil becomes thor>ughly 

 moistened, after which very little water 

 will be required till the seedlings make 

 their appearance, which generally takes 

 place in a fortnight or sixteen days. 



A piece of glass should be placed over 

 each pot, to prevent harm from drip or 

 insects. A temperature of 55 degrees 

 will suit them admirably, standing them 

 in a shady and moist part of the house. 

 Immediately the seedlings appear shade 

 from bright sunshine. As soon as they 

 can be safely handled, prick off the lit- 

 tle plants into the same kind of compost 

 in well-drained seed-pans, growing them 

 on in the same temperature. As soon as 

 growth commences seriously preparations 

 should be made for potting the seedlings 

 singly, into 3-inch pots, using a mixture 

 of fine peat, sifted leaf-soil, fibrous loam, 

 and coarse silver sand, in equal quanti- 

 ties. Good drainage should be provided, 

 and some clean fibre from the loam heap 

 be Dlaeed over it. A pit will be the most 

 suitable place for growing the young 

 streptocarpuses in, putting them as near 



the glass as possible, on a bed of finely 

 sifted cinder ashes. It will be well to 

 mention that every plant possible should 

 be grown so that a good selection can 

 be made; the whole of these will flowezi 

 during the summer, and the plants, in a 

 small state, take up but very little room. 



First Winter Treatment. 



During August and September these 

 will produce many flowers, and by liber- 

 ally feeding and keeping them clean, 

 they will continue to flower all through 

 the winter, but at the same time, any 

 which are required for making large 

 plants during the following spring and 

 summer should be rested as advised for 

 older plants. The first week in February 

 all those which have been so treated 

 should be started into growth. First of 

 all, well soak and cleanse the plants, 

 carefully remove the drainage, and re- 

 duce as much of the old soil as possible 

 without injury to the roots. The plants 

 should be shifted on into 4i^-inch pots, 

 and the older ones, as nearly as possible, 

 into the size they have previously occu- 

 pied. 



A similar compost to that already ad- 

 vised should be used, except that it 

 should be rougher, and have the addition 

 of a 6-inch potful of bonemeal, and the 

 same of finely-crushed charcoal to every 

 bushel of compost. Care should be taken 

 to use this in a satisfactory condition, 

 i. e., it should be neither too wet nor too 

 dry, and well mixed, so that every ingre- 

 dient becomes thoroughly incorporated. 



A capital place to give these a start is 

 a house carried at 55 degrees. If they 

 are thoroughly watered at first very little 

 more will be required till active growth 



