December 4, 1889.] 



Garden and Forest. 



585 



though, to make shapely plants, they should be pinched occa- 

 sionally as the growth proceeds. 



Another group of pretty dwarf growing plants are the Aphe- 

 landras, which are not only ornamental in flower, but also 

 have handsome foliage. One variety in particular, A. nitens, 

 is specially noticeable in this respect, the upper surface of the 

 ovate leaves being a very glossy olive green, while the under 

 side is dull purple, and this, contrasted with the brilliant scar- 

 let of the flowers, gives a very striking effect. Aphelandra 

 Rmzlii is also a good variety, and its foliage offers a great con- 

 trast in coloring with the preceding species, the leaves of A. 

 J?cezlii having a silvery appearance. The flowers of this species 

 are bright orange in color, and are produced in terminal spikes 

 in common with the other members of the genus. 



Another Aphelandra of rather more recent introduction is 

 A. fascinator, also prettily marked in foliage, and a rapid 

 grower, though the leaves have less substance than those of 

 the last, and are consequently more subject to the attacks of 

 red spider unless grown in quite a moist atmosphere and fairly 

 well shaded. In addition to the above there are several other 

 Aphelandras in cultivation, though some of them may be less 

 easily procured than those to which special reference has been 

 made. A. aurantiaca, A. Liboniana and A. variegata are all 

 interesting. 



The Aphelandras will make satisfactory progress if potted 

 in good loam, rather sandy, to which may be added a small 

 proportion of peat if convenient, although it is not absolutely 

 essential to their welfare. Their propagation is easy, either 

 by cuttings or from seeds, the latter being preferable, as seed- 

 lings not only make the best shaped plants, but there is also less 

 trouble from insects when they are grown by this method, be- 

 cause old plants kept for stock are very liable to become infested 

 with mealy bug and scale. As to temperature, sixty to sixty-five 

 degrees will be found to suit the Aphelandras, though a some- 

 what lower temperature will not specially injure them. In the 

 winter, full sunlight should be given, while some shading is 



necessary m summer. 



Holmesbxirg, Pa. 



W. H. Tapiin. 



Orchid Notes. 



Oncidium varicosuin. — This showy Orchid is one of the most 

 valuable for cutting. Its golden yellow flowers are borne on 

 large branching panicles, often three feet in length and bear- 

 ing 150 to 200 flowers at one time, and these will remain in 

 perfection nearly two months if the atmosphere is kept dry 

 and cool. It is advisable, however, not to allow the flowers to 

 remain on the plant so long, for it is liable to be considerably 

 weakened, and it will eventually be killed if this course is per- 

 sisted in. There is a fine variety named Rogersii, in which the 

 lip measures two and three-quarters inches across; but this plant 

 is exceedingly scarce, though many inferior varieties are sold 

 under this name. A part of the typical plant is in the collec- 

 tion here. Oncidium varicosicm was introduced about twenty 

 years ago from Brazil, where it has a wide distribution, and, 

 under varying conditions of climate, varies a good deal in size 

 and habit. It grows freely in the intermediate house, requir- 

 ing liberal treatment during the growing season. It should 

 be shaded from the sun no more than necessary to keep the 

 leaves from being burnt, and it dislikes much potting mate- 

 rial around its roots — a thin layer of moss is sufficient ; bas- 

 kets are preferable to rafts or blocks. I find the plants dete- 

 riorate rapidly after being a year or so on the blocks. 



Odontoglossim Kramerii. — This very rare and attractive little 

 plant is now in flower with us, and is doing fairly well in a 

 basket of moss in one corner of the Phalaenopsis-house. It is 

 said to be found in only one locality on a mountain-slope in 

 Costa Rica, and was introduced from there in 1868 by Kramer. 

 It is a small growing plant, with compressed ovate bulbs with 

 one oblong-lanceolate leaf about seven inches long. The 

 ascending scape bears three to five flowers one and a half inches 

 across. These are white, shaded to violet in the centre. The 

 clawed and half-round lip is two-lobed at the apex, dark violet, 

 with bands of white and reddish brown at the base. The gen- 

 eral appearance of die flower reminds one of the better known 

 0. citrosmum. 

 Kenwood, N. Y. F. Goldring. 



Cattleya Walkeriana is a splendid dwarf species, with bulb- 

 like stems from two and one-half to four inches high, bearing 

 an oblong-elliptic, obtuse, leathery leaf, with one, and some- 

 times two, beautiful rose colored flowers, the lip of which is 

 of a richer rose than the other parts and has a very slight tinge 

 of yellow. The flowers often measure from four and a half 

 to five inches across. We generally have our plants bloom in 

 November and they make a very fine display at this dull 



season. The large flowers from such a small, leafless bulb 

 always excite surprise. The blooms last from four to five 

 weeks when kept rather cool and dry. They are very sweet 

 scented and fill the house with their fragrance. Our plants 

 are suspended from the roof in ratiier a light place, in small 

 pans, with a small quantity of sphagnum moss and charcoal, 

 and they flourish fairly well in this way. They do not like 

 much sunshine. 



Cattleya maxima Backhousii is a very distinct and desir- 

 able variety. The bulbs are rather short and plump, with 

 stout, erect leaves. The sepals and petals are bright rich 

 rose, and the lip is elegantly variegated with very dark crim- 

 son veins down the centre, and it has a beautiful yellow throat. 

 This is, no doubt, the most beautiful of the Maxima type and 

 should be found in every collection. It nearly always blooms 

 here in October or November. We grow it both in pots and 

 pans suspended from the roof ; it likes abundant light, and a 

 litUe sun appears to ripen up the bulbs and induce it to flower 

 much more freely. Our plants are kept rather dry after flow- 

 ering until they show signs of growing, and then a copious 

 supply of water is given. 



Staatsburg-on-Hudson. F. Atkins. 



Autumn Flowers. — Much has lately been written on the vari- 

 ous shades of color to be seen in the Autumn Anemone, A. 

 Japonica, ranging as they do from deep rose to pure white. 

 In their way these plants are unquestionably without rivals for 

 autumn decorative use. We wish to call attention, however, 

 to a plant that flowers at the same time as die Anemones, lasts 

 fully as long, and the color of which is a beautiful dark blue. 

 The plant is known as Acoftituin autumnale, although we are 

 now informed that this is only one of the plant's many specific 

 synonyms. It is often sold under the name of A. napellus, and, 

 indeed, this is the title under which it came into our own pos- 

 session ; but it is very distinct from A. napellus, which flow- 

 ers in early summer, and is not so showy as A. aiifiimnale, or 

 A. Fischeri, as we are to call it in future. The plant grows 

 about three feet high, the spike is often branched so as to 

 form a panicle, and tliese branches prolong the flowerino- 

 period for a considerable time, and when planted with the 

 Anemones, the combinafion of colors, red, white and blue, is 

 very striking during the latter part of October. A. Fischej'i is 

 a native of China and is perfectly hardy. The roots are tuber- 

 ous and readily admit of division for the purpose of increasing 

 the stock, and, in addition to this means of propagation, seeds 

 are produced abundantly, which germinate readily when sown 

 and placed in a gentle heat. 



Passaic, N. J. O. 



Gaillardia hybrida grandiflora. — Stray blooms of hybrid Gail- 

 lardias in the last week of Novembe'r remind me to note that 

 these are the mostpersistentbloomersamonghardyplants. My 

 plants came into bloom early in June, since which time they 

 have flowered constantly and in profusion, and now have 

 many buds which will not mature. This very ornamental 

 genus has been worked up in recent years, and probably from 

 hybridizing G. aristata and G. picia — the former oiving 

 hardiness and the latter coloring. The English florists' oftet- 

 constantly many new varieties, but there is a great similarity 

 among most of fiiem. They are usually yellow, with a more 

 or less distinct zone of deep red, though some yellow selfs are 

 offered. The petals are usually flattish, though sometimes 

 quilled and fringed. A package of seed will produce many 

 pleasing kinds, quite sadsfactory to the ordinary cultivator. 

 They bloom freely the second season from seed. ' The plants 

 are entirely hardy, in this section, and rapidly increased bv 

 cuttings of the roots. Owing to this readiness to increase 

 from pieces of roots, Gaillardias are rather difficult to eradicate 

 from borders, unless care is taken to lift with the roots entire. 

 They certainly may be classed among the most useful of hardy 

 herbaceous perennials, either for show or for cutting. 



Polygonum amplexicaule, var. oxyphyllum- — This is a Hima- 

 .layan Knot weed, introduced to cultivation by Messrs. Hal- 

 lock, of Queens, New York, under the more poetic name of 

 Mountain Fringe. This variety, which is said to have been 

 brought to this country several years since by Professor Gray, 

 is a very vigorous one, too vigorous for small places, as 'it 

 grows, with numerous branches, to the height of five feet. 

 With me it came into bloom in October, bearing clusters of 

 small creamy white flowers, which are attractive on the plant, 

 but which soon fade after they are cut. As a sharp frost ruins 

 the plant, shelter will be needed for it in this climate. Where 

 bold masses are needed— in large places and parks south of this 

 latitude — the plant will be very useful, and for persons who en- 

 joy the foliage of Smart weed it may be used in more mod- 

 est collections. But since it does not give a specially large 



