10 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



Jdnh 9. 1910. 



some trouble with either the soil or the 

 water, and I am inclined to the opinion 

 that it is due to an alkaline soil, or else 

 that the water used for watering contains 

 an excess of either soda or iime. 



I would try a change of soil, or the 



use of rain water for watering, or both, 

 for there does not seem to be any dis- 

 ease in the plants, apart from such in- 

 jury as would be likely to result from an 

 excess of alkali. W. M. T. 



A COMMEBCIAL PROPOSITION. 



[A paper by Alphonse Perlcat, read before the 

 Florists' Club of Philadelphia, June 7, 1010.] 



Your committee has me here tonight 

 to talk orchids, much against my own 

 inclinations. In the first place, it is a 

 difficult subject and, in the second place, 

 I hardly know what to say. Of course 

 I have been in orchids all my life, both 

 in the amateur and commercial lines; 

 but the field is so large that it is diffi- 

 cult to choose any phase of it that 

 would be interesting to you. I think 

 ,the best I can do under the circum- 

 stances is to indicate a few of the 

 species and varieties that have so far 

 proved themselves commercially possi- 

 ble. There is no doubt but what the 

 orchid has come rapidly to the front 

 commercially in the last ten years, and^ 

 it may be confidently looked forward to 

 as a constantly increasing factor in the 

 flower markets of America. 



The Profitable Kinds. 



The first of the family important 

 commercially is, of course, the cattleya. 

 This species and its many varieties is 

 so showy and of such varied colors, 

 and can be had by successive plantings 

 through so long a season, that it is 

 small wonder that it takes premier posi- 

 tion. The best of them all is, of course, 

 Trianse, because it is not only a lovely 

 flower, but also because it blooms at a 

 season when cut flowers are most in de- 

 mand. Next to that comes labiata, 

 which flowers in the fall, when roses 

 and carnations are scarce and variety is 

 needed to supplement the chrysanthe- 

 mum and other fall flowers. The other 

 members of the same family that are 

 of importance are Schroederae and Mos- 

 sise, as these come in succession and 

 flower at a time when the others can 

 not be had. Gigas and Gaskelliana are, 

 of course, the important ones for sum- 

 mer flowering. 



Next to the cattleya, the important 

 orchid commercially is the cypripedium. 

 Insigne flowers more freely than any 

 other and is most easily grown. Leea- 

 num and Spicerianum rank next. The 

 cypripedium can be grown and sold for 

 less than other orchids; hence it is one 

 of the most important, although not the 

 showiest. 



On account of the demand for white 

 orchids in the fall, Dendrobium Formo- 

 sum occupies an important place. The 

 plants go back after two or* three years 

 and it is necessary to renew stock. D. 

 Phalsenopsis is fine for sprays. 



Oncidiums are of great merit in many 

 ways, the several varieties flowering in 

 succession from September to February. 

 They are much liked for decorations on 

 account of their spray formation and 

 beautiful colors. Some are easily man- 

 aged, some not. Splendidum is one of 

 the best growers. It is a fine flower and 

 likely to be more grown in the future. 

 Varicosum Rogersii is a favorite on ac- 

 count of its fine spray, which is easily 

 adapted to many decorative purposes. 

 The plants run out quickly, however, 

 much the same as D. Formosum. 



Varieties With Possibilities. 



These species and varieties mentioned 

 are practically all that are much grown 

 today, but there are a number of others 

 that will be on the market soon, as the 

 demand is constantly extending. Pha- 

 lsenopsis amabilis is one. This can now 



1 : 



be had from the Philippines at reason; - 

 ble price and will be heard from short] . 

 P. Schillerianum is also a good one ar ] 

 its pink is a good contrast to the whii.; 

 of amabilis, flowering about the san: ; 

 time. 



Vanda ccerulea is a good species ' o 

 grow for cut flowers and can be macj 

 to pay. It is about the only one of iis 

 color (blue) that is worth anything t ) 

 grow. 



Support the Market. 



In conclusion, let me add a serious 

 and emphatic caution to all orchid 

 growers. Never sell your flowers too 

 cheaply. . The orchid is au expensive 

 flower to grow; but sometimes there are 

 too many of them at one time. Rather 

 lose a few of these than sell them 

 cheaply. That breaks the market and 

 you lose far more in the long run. The 

 market is not easily mended, once it is 

 broken. Therefore, it is good policy for 

 the grower to be careful not to over 

 crowd with more than the market will 

 absorb. 



DENDBOBIUMS. 



As the growths on the nobile section 

 advance a more copious water supply can 

 be given. Do not shade too heavily. 

 Some sun mornings and evenings will do 

 them good. A moist, warm house, with 

 syringing overhead about 3:30 p. m., is 

 what they like, closing the ventilators 

 at the same time. Leave a little chink 

 of air on all night, however. Such den 

 drobiums as thyrsifloruni, Farmerii, 

 chrysotoxum, suavissimum, densiflorum, 

 Dalhousianum and Calceolaria are now 

 flowering. These, while rather showy, are 

 not Itisting. They are of easy culture 

 and do well at the warm end of the cat 

 tleya house. After flowering, any pot 

 ting or top-dressing can be done. 



I 



' yf^'<^^7?.'♦=^.'^<H^=^'<H?1■.'♦^.'♦^\ •■yf»!>'<^.'<^.'fe.-»i' ' 



SEASONABLE 



SUGGESTIONS 



W^.<»^.<»^.<»^.'»^.' 



I 



Asters. 



A last sowing of asters can now be 

 made. Select for this sowing some va- 

 rieties which bloom the earliest from 

 seed. It is too late to sow such sorts 

 as American Branching, Vick's Branch- 

 ing, or even Semple's, but Mignon, Vic- 

 toria, Queen of the Earlies and Chrys- 

 anthemum will flower before we get 

 frost. Cutworms are now troublesome 

 on land which was in grass a year ago. 

 Keep poisoned mash laid around. Fresh 

 bran, moistened with molasses and 

 water and colored with Paris green, an- 

 swers well. A dusting of lime or soot, 

 or both, discourages the pests from 

 working and makes them seek fresh 

 camping grounds. Constant cultivation 

 is aiso-Nof the greatest aid in minimiz- 

 ing thejlosses from their attacks. 



Cycas Revoluta. 



The dried stems of Cycas revoluta are 

 now to hand. It is only a few florists 

 who now have much call for these 

 plants. On lawns in partial shade, when 

 of considerable size, they are quite ef-. 



fective, and there are few better last 

 ing foliage plants for big vases in larg' 

 hallways or hotels, theaters and, ii 

 fact, any building where a minimuu 

 of 50 degrees is maintained. Thesi 

 dry stems should be potted as SQon a 

 received, using pots just large enougi 

 to comfortably hold the stems. Plac» 

 them in a brisk, moist house am 

 syringe freely. Sometimes in a few 

 weeks growth will start, but do not 

 grow nervous if the fronds do not ap 

 pear in as many moons. 

 Smilaz. 



Where young smilax stock is to b* 

 planted, the beds should be prepare<i 

 as soon as possible. Of course the 

 plants can be well grown in benches. 

 -fe«±-much better in beds. A generous soil 

 isjwanted, just such as will grow gooo' 

 ^Inums, roses' or violets. Allow twelve 

 to fifteen inches between the rows and 

 nine inches between the plants and get 

 the strings in place as soon after plant 

 ing as possible. Smilax can be grown 

 in a comparatively cool house, but to 

 produce it profitably it is better to 



