■-M . •' K' „ ."^--v. 



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OCTOBIB 11, 1906. 



The Weekly Florists' Review/ 



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J 327 



• •^■'■''■'y-M,,^'''' 



FLORISTS* ORCHIDS. 



'-■■- A Modern Necei»ity»-^ 



The florist who is anxious to keep 

 abreast of the titnes, and who is quick 

 to note the growing tendency of the peo- 

 ple for more variety and better produce, 

 is constantly beset by the problem: Shall 

 I raise orchids aind thereby encourage 

 the aesthetic tastes of my patrons, or 

 shall I discourage the sale of orchids 

 and purchase the blooms from a distance 

 only when compelled to do so by an 

 exacting customer? 



This problem is also made more diffi- 

 cult to solve by the current idea that 

 the culture of orchids belongs to the 

 realm of mystery. The initiated refer 

 to this as "the bugaboo of orchid cult- 

 ure." It is the opinion of the writer 

 that if as much attention were paid to 

 the orchids of the establishment as to 

 the annual crop of geraniums, success 

 would be assured. 



'•■-•' »^ ' ' 

 ... * • No Mystery in Treatment. 



While the writer hesitates to say that 

 th9 „£ulturfi. . of . a mixed collection of 



orchids is an easy matter, yet it is true 

 that the few species of orchids suitable 

 for the florists' trade can be raised 

 with success and profit if handled by a 

 man of average intelligence, who will 

 observe and follow a few quite flexible 

 rules, such as refer to seasons of rest 

 and growth, temperature, air circulation, 

 etc. 



Specially bu^t houses are not required 

 for florists' orchids, but low houses are 

 preferable. No orchid should be grown 

 more than four feet from the glass, and 

 half that distance is better. 



Nearly all of the florists' orchids may 

 be considered as bi-products, as they may 

 be suspended from the roofs of palm or 

 fern houses, where a light shade is used 

 during the summer months. Never hang 

 the plants higher than easily can be 

 reached from the walks, as the average 

 man with the hose will not take the 

 trouble to climb up to examine his 

 plants, and either a too wet or too dry 

 condition is the result. 



Whenever there is a steady demand 

 for orchids, space should be given on 

 the benches to secure adequate attention 

 and best light conditions. Wherever 



bench culture is resorted to there should 

 be a double o!r ' false bench of narrow 

 slats placed over the lower bench, as in 

 this way perfect drainage is secured, and 

 a moist atmosphere is maintained in 

 the growing season by dampening the 

 gravel or cinders on the lower bench. 



Potting Material. . 



i ■'!.. 



Never mount the plants on blocks or 

 boards, as the plants soon deteriorate 

 and lose their ability to produce bloom. 

 It must be remembered that although it 

 is difficult to kill an orchid, yet the 

 starvation which is often the result of 

 block culture will soon result in unprofit- 

 able plants. Pot the plants in either 

 pans or half pots, or baskets. 



For potting material, adhere strictly 

 to orchid peat (osmunda fiber) and in- 

 sist on getting young peat, as the old 

 peat is too wiry and open to sustain the 

 plants. Chop the peat with a hay-cutter, 

 to save time, retaining the fine particles, 

 which should be mixed with the coarse 

 peat to fonn a denser potting material. 

 Break a large hole in the bottom of the 

 pan and place over it one large crock, 

 no more. The old system of one-half 

 crocks simply furnished a safe retreat 

 for snails, sow-bugs and cockroaches, the 

 chief enemies of orchi4s. It is a good 

 plan to place the coarsest peat in the 

 bottom of the pans, reserving the ypung- 

 est and softest peat for the surface. 



The Season of Rest. 



It safely can be said that fully half 

 of the amateur orchidists kill their plants 

 by giving them too severe a season of 

 rest. WMle it is true that in the tropics 

 thereis a" long rtiinlSss season, yet the 

 condensing of the moisture in the humid 

 atmosphere of the tropics results in a 

 heavy dew, which serves to sustain plant 

 life during the dry season. This condi- 



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15.% 



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Cattleya Ptsrpurata with Forty-four Blooms» Grown by George E. McQure, in Osmunda Fiber Alone. ^ , 



•*- «»%»-»>* -.'<^-»-{PhotOfrNiph reprodtteed *y permission of Mlasourl Botanical Gardens.) '- -J'- . . ..: ' ' 



