12 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



June 2, 1<)10. 



GRAPTOPHYLLUM PICTUM. 



(ira])to|ihyllum pictum in ouo of a small 

 genus of shrubs from the southern trop- 

 ics and is the most valued Jind orna- 

 mental of the species. It is a tender 

 evergreen shrub, grown in our northern 



freenhouses entirelj' for the beauty of its 

 oliage. Although the illustration does 

 not very well show the variegation, the 



leaves are most irregularly marked and 

 blotched with yellow, no two leaves being 

 alike. It grows to a height of seven to 

 ten feet, but smaller specimens are more 

 ornamental in the conservatory. Ordi- 

 nary good loam, with a warm tempera- 

 ture, will grow it freely. The flower is 

 scarlet, but not conspicuous. There is 

 a variety of the above called lurido san 

 guinea, with purplish leaves and red veins. 



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I 



SEASONABLE 



SUGGESTIONS 



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Allamanda Williamsi. 



Allamanda Williamsi makes one of 

 the best summer flowering pot plants. It 

 is an especial favorite at Newport, R. 

 I., and other fashionable summer resorts, 

 nicely grown plants making beauti- 

 ful centerpieces. Plants started early 

 in April in a brisk heat, and kept in a 

 warm house, will now be showing flower. 

 It gives the flowers more substance if 

 they are not grown in too shady a 

 structure. They will stand full sun 

 and even grow outdoors. In the lat- 

 ter case the flowers take on a bronzy 

 hue. 



A greenhouse kept about 55 degrees at 

 night will now suit A. Williamsi well. 

 Let the plants have an abundance of 

 water and, as the pots rapidly fill with 

 roots, use liquid cow^ manure water or 

 a top-dressing of Clay's Tertilizer once 

 a week. These allamandas flower for 

 months, and as they are adaptable 

 for cutting for market purposes and 

 are of easy culture, they are worthy of 

 more attention. Soft-wood cuttings will 

 root in a month in a warm house. 



Achimenes. 



Whether achimenes are grown in pots, 

 pans or baskets, they are excellent sum- 

 mer blooming plants. In Europe they 

 are greater favorites than here, but the 

 large flowered varieties, such as alba 

 maxima and Margaretta, are useful 

 florists' plants where choice pot plants 

 in bloom are wanted in July and Au- 

 gust. They last remarkably well in 

 the dwelling house and, when in active 

 growth, do well in a house suitable for 

 gloxinias. They can be moved to a 

 cold, airy house as the flowers open. 

 The compost should be light, porous, 

 but fairly rich; one-half fibrous loam, 

 one-fourth cow manure, one-fourth 

 flaky leaf-mold and a good dash of 

 sand suits them nicely. Do not let the 

 direct sun strike them, as the foliage 

 will readily scald, and in watering avoid 

 wetting the foliage as much as pos- 

 sible. Eight or nine growths are ample 

 for a 6-inch pot .or pan, and these 

 should each have light stakes before the 

 flowers start to expand. 

 Hydrangeas. 



The arrival of Memorial day means a 

 heavj' diminution in the supplies of 

 flowering plants, and hydrangeas are in 

 as much demand as any other pot plant 

 at that season. There is, with many, 

 considerable sale for these plants 

 through .Tune and July. Late blooming 



stock should have some shade, to re- 

 duce watering and keep the flower heads 

 of a good color. Plant out young stock 

 rooted early in the year. Choose a 

 well manured piece of land, inclined to 

 be moist. If some water can be given 

 during severe droughts, it will be a 

 great benefit. It is not too late even 

 now to root a good batch of cuttings. 

 These, if kept growing along in pots, 

 will be fit to flower in 6-inch pots next 

 spring with one or two large heads 

 each. Plant out any unsold stock, after 

 heading them back well. These will 

 make fine, big specimens another year. 

 Large plants carried over winter in cold 

 cellars will now be outdoors and must 

 have an abundant water supply. As 

 they start into active growth, apply 

 liquid manure freely, as hydrangeas 

 are gross feeders. 



Cannas. 



In planting out beds of cannas, it is 

 always a mistake to have them mounded 

 up toward the center. The plants will 

 not make nearly as good growth in 

 these as when the beds are level or 

 even a little sunken, unless they are 

 copiously watered. Cannas enjoy a 

 warm, moist and rich soil, but in the 



early stages of growth, when the nights 

 are liable to be rather chilly, it is be^r 

 not to water too freely. Be sure i > 

 plant out a sufficient quantity of stoc'c 

 plants for yourselves before the bed 

 ding season is too far advanced. It i< 

 sometimes necessary to refuse lati' 

 orders, strong as the temptation may b>' 

 to fill them with plants needed by oui 

 selves. . 



Nerines. 



Xeriaes will now^ have completed their 

 growth and the foliage will show signs 

 of decaying on some of them. Thev 

 will d;i well now stood outdoors in full 

 sun on a bed of- cinders. Do not drv 

 them olf too suddenly, but withhold 

 water by degrees. By the middle of 

 June, when the foliage Avill all be assuni 

 ing a golden hue, lay them on their 

 sides on a hot, sunny bank, where they 

 can get a thorough baking all sum 

 mer long. They will need no further 

 attention until the middle or end of 

 September, when the flower spikes will 

 commence to push and the pots can 

 be moved into a frame or cool green 

 liouse and watered. 



Variegated Vinca. 



Variegated vinca is one of the most 

 generally useful of hanging plants for 

 vases, piazza boxes and window boxes, 

 and there never seems to be much of a 

 surplus of it. Be sure to reserve 

 and plant out a sufficient quanity 

 of plants for propagating purpose^j. 

 Cuttings rooted during the winter 

 do not make • plants of sufficient 

 size for the bulk of customers and are 

 better grown a season in the field, when 

 they make heavy clumps by fall. As 

 the propagating benches will now be 

 less in service, take off a good batch 

 of cuttings with a heel. Keep them 

 shaded and well soaked with water. 

 Few will fail to root. Pot these, and, 

 to get a nice growth on them, plunge 

 them in an empty coldframe in old 

 manure. Scatter a little fine manure 

 on top of the ground. Water freely 

 and they will make nice plants before 

 fall. 



Astilbe Japonica. 



If you have been growing Astilbe 



Graptophyllum Pictum. 



