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Fbbruaby 24, 1910. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



Cattleya Labiita Grown by W. N. Craigt North Easton, Mass. 



referred to as trash, it may be because 

 some parties have failed, by being late in 

 planting, as this class of roses is usually 

 oflfered for sale as late as July and Au- 

 gust. ElBES. 



CATTLEYA LABIATA. 



Cattleya labiata has been illustrated 

 on a number of previous occasions in the 

 Review. Originally introduced as far 

 back as 1818, it had become scarce, until 

 its re-introduction some twenty years ago 

 in quantity, and it seems hard to imagine 

 what a gap there would be were it now 

 taken from us. It is so free flowering, 

 so vigorous growing and of such com- 

 paratively easy growth that no one with 

 a greenhouse need be afraid to essay its 

 culture. Cases of newly imported plants 

 are now oflfered at such low prices that 

 they are within the reach of everyone. 

 Several years ago we were told that C. 

 labiata would be expensive in a short 

 time, as supplies were being exhausted, 

 but it was never oflfered cheaper or in 

 larger quantities than in 1909 and the 

 demand continues as great as ever. 



One of the illustrations shows a nicely 

 flowered plant of a good type, grown in 

 a 7-inch pot. The other shows a distinct 

 form flowered by A. H. Wingett, the 

 well known superintendent for Charles 

 Lanier, Lenox, Mass., a few months ago. 

 The sepals and petals are pale in color; 

 the lower two, behind the lip, hang down 

 in such a manner as to suggest a single 

 broad petal. These have heavy blotches 

 of bright magenta on their interior parts, 

 in the same way as C. Triana; Back- 

 housiana. , This is one of the most inter- 

 esting of the irL.ny forms of C. labiata 

 r have seen. W. N. C. 



ASTERS. 



What time should asters be planted in 

 a coldframe to get them in bloom in 

 good season? We are 100 miles north 

 of Boston, near the seashore. Which will 

 give the best results, coldframe or hot- 

 bed culture? What is supposed to be the 

 best of the long-stemmed, large flowering 

 asters? I have always used Semple's 

 Branching and bought my seedlings ready 

 to set out. Usually about one-half are 

 Semple's; the other half will give one 

 good flower, and not first-class ones at 



that, and the rest will get smaller and 

 shorter in stem, until the last are about 

 the size of nickels. I do not know if it is 

 the fault of the seed or the man who 

 grows them for me. 



What should be done to the ground, 

 first-class hay ground, to get it in condi- 

 tion to grow seedlings, bulbs, etc., this 

 year? It has never been plowed up. I 

 would like to plant this year on it if 

 possible, but did not have it in time to 

 do anything to it last year. B. M. E. 



For an early crop, sow aster seed in a 

 hotbed early in March. Use such varie- 

 ties as Queen of the Market and Hohen- 



zollern. The first named is reliable. 

 Later sowings can be made in a cold- 

 frame or outdoors as late as June. Good 

 late varieties are Semple's, Vick's 

 Branching and Giant Comet. Try the 

 two first named for your trade. It will 

 pay you to raise your own seedlings. 

 Buy seed from a thoroughly reliable 

 dealer; cheap seed is dear at any price. 

 Provided that you have well-manured 

 land, you should average twenty flowers 

 per plant, although we have had as many 

 as forty on Vick's Branching and Queen 

 of the Market. 



Your hay land should grow fine asters 

 and bulbs. It would have been better 

 plowed and loft rough over winter, but I 

 would recommend plowing as soon as 

 frost leaves the ground. Then give a 

 good coating of barnyard manure and 

 harrow it in Avell. Later use a smooth- 

 ing harrow and you will get it in good 

 shape before pl?inting-out time. Be sure 

 to cultivate the ground constantly among 

 asters and all other .growing crops. Cul- 

 tivation is far better than artificial 

 watering. W. C. 



THE GODFREY CALLA. 



Through the Review we would like to 

 know all about the Godfrey calla. Is it 

 better than the common calla? If so, in 

 what way? Will it produce as much or 

 more per square foot of bench room? 

 How do the blooms compare as to size? 

 When should it be planted and how? 

 What size plants? What soil, light and 

 heat does it want? Is it enough better 

 than the old calla to discard the old for 

 it? We would be pleased to have all the 

 questions answered, and any other infor- 

 mation regarding this calla. T. N. 



Perhaps some Reatiew readers who have 

 handled it can furnish the needed infor- 

 mation. — Ed. 



Cattleya Labiata Grown by A. H. Wingett, Lenox, Mast. 



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