-rnr' 



852 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



fi*EBfltAnY ?, 190?. 



double petuuiaa making no growth is 

 that the cuttings rooted were from flow- 

 erless, or what is commonly termed 

 blind wood, in which case they are of 

 no value. Cuttings when from cut back 

 plants, which have been kept in a fairly 

 warm greenhouse and rubbed off with a 

 heel, root freely and should grow right 

 away from now onward. A compost of 

 two-thirds loam and one-third old cow 

 manure, with a little dash of sand, is 

 suitable. At the first shift from the cut- 

 ting bench, however, a lighter mixture of 

 loam, leaf -mold and sand would be bet- 

 ter. A temperature of 50 to 55 degrees 

 at night and a light, sunny position is 

 desirable. W. N. C. 



BEAUTE CELESTE. 



It is always interesting to hear from 

 those in the trade on the continent of 

 Europe. Nearly always there is a point 

 to what the European has to say, and not 



infrequently his choice of English words 

 adds to the interest. The contributor 

 who forwards the photograph of Odonto- 

 glossum Beaute Celeste says that "Ac- 

 cording to me, it is the finest shape we 

 ever saw." This is perhaps not just the 

 way an Englishman would have said it, 

 but there was no mistaking that the 

 writer is of the opinion that in form this 

 flower is the finest of the odontoglos- 

 sums. 



Odontoglossum Beaute Celeste is one 

 of the seedlings raised by Ch. Vuylsteke, 

 of Loochristi, near Ghent, in Belgium, 

 whence have come a number of excellent 

 things in the orchid line. The flower is 

 large, very wide, round and strong. The 

 ground is pure white with few dark 

 markings, as shown in the accompanying 

 illustration. The variety is the result of 

 a cross of Odontoglossum ardentissimum 

 and Odontoglossum crispum. Orchid fan- 

 ciers consider it something extraordinary. 





SEASONABLE 



>»^>*^T>. 



SUGGESTIONS 



'Urm^-y^9'<^^n. 





Foliage Plants. 



Aspidistras are never in oversupply. 

 No other foliage plant will stand the 

 same amount of neglect without resent- 

 ing it. Any potting needed may now be 

 done. This plant does not need a warm 

 house, but grows well in it, and after re- 

 potting prefers it. Ficus elastica and 

 F. pandurata will be the better for a 

 sponging. Cuttings of the former will 

 root freely now if a good, steady, bottom 

 heat is at command. ' A mixture of 

 spliagnum and sand, a close atmosphere 

 and plenty of moisture at the root and 

 they will root quickly, Crotons, draca;- 

 nas, dieffenbachias and other fine foli- 

 age plants will also root readily in the 

 same way. Be sure they are kept well 

 shaded and watered and few will fail to 

 root. 



Bouvardias. 



If you wish to increase your stock of 

 bouvardias shake all the soil away from 

 one or two old " plants, cut the thicker 

 roots in pieces a quarter-inch to a half- 

 inch long, cover with sand in a warm, 

 propagating bed and you will soon have 

 a fine crop of little plants ready to pot 

 off. While bouvardias can also be in- 

 creased by cuttings of soft wood, we 

 find that the root cuttings make the best 

 plants. Pot off into small pots as soon' 

 as they are making new roots. Usually 

 top growth will start first. Keep in a 

 warm house after potting until they are 

 well established. Bouvardias are in less 

 demand than fifteen to twenty years ago, 

 but a batch is useful in midwinter and, 

 if well grown, pays for itself hand- 

 somely. 



Palms. 



Probably some of your palms are now 

 needing a sponging over. The present 

 is a good time to do it, before the spring 

 rush is on. If only a couple of hours a 

 day can be spared, much can be accom- 

 plished in a week. Use some fir tree oil 

 or seal oil soap in the water if plants 

 are badly infested with scale, being al- 

 ways careful to avoid sponging young 



and tender leaves with it and to hose 

 over all plants after sponging. If the 

 pots are dirty, clean them, too. It is sur- 

 prising how much more valuable a plant 

 with clean leaves and a clean pot looks, 

 as compared with a dirty one. 



If any of the palms are getting much 

 potbound they may be potted now. Avoid 



such plants without watering them sev- 

 eral times. 



A good compost for palms is one of 

 two-thirds fibrous loam, one-third lejit'- 

 mold, with a liberal addition of sand 

 Large plants can have some coarse bone 

 added and a little well-dried cow mnn 

 ure. 



Some of the more graceful and least 

 vigorous-rooting palms, such as Geoiio 

 ma gracilis and Cocos Weddelliana, no( I 

 quite small pots and will only staul 

 small shifts. The pretty and gracef't 

 Phoenix Eoebelenii is now fairly ehe:;;, 

 and plentiful. It is an excellent hou 

 plant and should become popular win ^ 

 more widely known. Probably Keni i 

 lielmoreana is the best palm for all pin 

 poses. For decorative uses it is easi! 

 the best. Areca lutescens, while graceful 

 is more delicate. Latania Borbonica is • 

 vigorous and easily grown variety whio!.. 

 however, on account of its spreadii:; 

 habit, is of less commercial value. Tin 

 same applies to the stronger growing oi 

 the genus phoenix. 



Cyclamens. 



Cyclamens are now giving a beautiful 

 display of flowers. They are undoubt 

 edly one of the finest of flowering plants 

 for the retail florist. They ship well 

 and bloom for a long time. They am 

 not "shaky," as some primulas and be- 

 gonias are in the average furnace-heated 

 house, and are one of the most satisfac- 

 tory flowering plants grown. Plants flow- 

 ering, or which soon will be, should have 

 a light, airy house, kept at 45 to 48 de- 

 grees at night. They should be shaded 

 from bright sunshine and watered care- 

 fully. The mysterious disease generally 

 classed as the ' ' cyclamen mite * ' is the 

 worst enemy to contend with. The best 

 growers, after trying all imaginable rem- 



Odootoglouum Beaute Celeste. 



big shifts. Merely allow space for a lit- 

 tle loam around the old balls. Press the 

 soil in firmly and leave a liberal space 

 for water. Too often palms are seen 

 with the soil almost level with the top 

 of the pot. It is impossible to soak 



edies, are baffled by it, and when it has 

 appeared in virulent form the only thing 

 to do is to throw away all old stock and 

 start anew. 



Last fall's seedlings should not be neg- 

 lected. They ought now to be ready for 



