

•■ -^,'»w«-\f 



/IWD 8. 1905. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



129 



Gittleya Mossiae with Fifty Flowers. 



do finely plunged outdoors and, if atten- 

 tively watered, do not bum. That we 

 have proved during many summers. Are- 

 nas do bleacli out and are better under 

 shaded glass. 



Cannas. 



With all the cannas you see adver- 

 tised in early spring there is never a 

 surplus and we do not always find it is 

 80 easy to buy good, sound roots. There 

 is nothing like having them on your own 

 place and you should now plant out all 

 you can. A small plant now means a 

 big root by October and they are easily 

 wintered, yet it is during winter that so 

 many of the roots are lost. Therefore 

 put out plenty of the standard sorts and 

 try a few of the novelties. 



Vinca Minor. 



Of all the drooping- plants for window 

 boxes and vases there is none so useful 

 as well as ornamental as these vincas, the 

 variegated and Harrisonii. "We never yet 

 had enough of them. There is plenty of 

 time yet and a very small plant will do. 

 They grow very freely and can be cut 

 close to the ground in October and the 

 roots divided and put into 3-inch pots. 

 They winter almost anywhere in the 

 jfreenhouse and make fine drooping vines 

 for spring. Don't neglect to plant out 

 a lot of them if you are in that line of 

 business. 



Smilax. 



Long as this decorative plant has been 

 grown, we often get some question about 

 it. Any one doing a retail trade should 

 have a bed of smilax. The end of this 

 month or early July is the time to plant 

 and they should be strong 3-inch plants. 

 We have seen smilax grown on a very 

 wet floor, but that is by no means essen- 

 tial. I only mention this that no drained 

 bed is necessary. Six inches of good, 

 heavy loam, with a fourth of half rotten 

 cow manure, will grow smilax finely. 

 The only time we had a poor smilax bed 

 was when we used a light soil. 



The bed should be on the floor, with 

 plenty of head-room. Tie strings to it 

 as soon as planted and if during the 

 winter you can keep a temperature of 60 

 degrees, and never neglect to syringe it, 

 you can cut four crops within the year. 



iLc ^f "°* P^y ^ ^^'^ «°»ilax cool, nor 

 aoes It pay to neglect keeping it tied up. 

 In the care of this easily |rown plant 



there is no place the old adage pays 

 better, "A stitch in time saves nine," 



Adiantum G'oweanum. 



Have you tried this fine fern? Those 

 who see it growing where it originated 

 are quickly convinced that it is distinct 

 from any other adiantum and those who 

 will give it a fair trial will find it a most 

 free and vigorous grower, but it wants 

 liberal treatment. Now is a good time 

 to start a bed. 



The writer has seen it growing most 

 luxuriantly in the identical same soil 

 that was producing the finest Bridesmaid 

 roses, a rotted, yellow loam, with the 

 usual amount of manure. If there are 

 steam or hot water pipes beneath the 

 bench they should be low down, for 

 neither this adiantum nor any other fern 

 wants the roots scorched. When grow- 

 ing freely it will be greatly helped by 

 frequent waterings of liquid manure. It 



should have 60 degrees at night and even 

 65 degrees will only make it grow the 

 faster. A bed planted within a few 

 weeks will give you fine fronds for next 

 winter. 



Air-slaked lime not only keeps down 

 the slugs but the plants seem to thrive 

 on the lime. Do not be afraid to dust 

 between the plants, as well as the crowns 

 of the plants, after they start to grow 

 freely. William Scott. 



HELLEBORUS NIGER MAXIMUS. 



The accompanying illustration shows a 

 plant of an improved form of the Christ- 

 mas rose which J. J. Grullemans & Sons, 

 of Lisse, Holland, are offering under the 

 name of Hellsborus niger maximus. The 

 plant shown was photographed on De- 

 cember 24 of last year and the growers 

 . assure us that ' * first-class plants pro- 

 duce a great abundance of pure white 

 flowers which naturally at Christmas are 

 of great value, particularly for funeral 

 work. The plants, after the flowers 

 have been cut, may be planted out in 

 good soil under trees, or at least in a 

 shady place, and can after proper treat- 

 ment be used again after two years' 

 rest. ' ' 



The plant thrives in a rich, well 

 drained loam but is impatient of fre- 

 quent disturbance. When wanted for 

 forcing, strong plants should be given 

 large pots and given heat graduaUy. 

 They are then easily brought into flower 

 when wanted. Propagation is usually 

 by division in autumn or spring, but if 

 seeds mature they may be planted at once 

 in pans or in open ground. Seedlings 

 ordinarily bloom the third season. Where 

 the potted plants are sold for shipment 

 it is advised that they be shipped be- 

 fore they show flower buds, else they are 

 likely to lose them. 



CATTLEYA MOSSIAE. 



This is one of the most showy of the 

 early summer blooming cattleyas, a va- 

 riety which is also of easy culture, free 



Helleborus Niger Maximus. 



