208 How TO Grow Cut Flowers. 



Open wooden baskets for growing them, or pots 

 made for the purpose, are preferable to charred wood or 

 wooden blocks. Fill the basket with fern roots and 

 live sphagnum moss, after providing an abundance of 

 broken crockery and charcoal for drainage. Fasten the 

 plant securely to the top of the basket or pot with wire 

 and assign it to its place in the house. 



Cypripedium insigne is one of the most common Or- 

 chids in cultivation, and of exceedingly easy culture ; 

 it commences to bloom in November and continues 

 until March. 



Of the many Cattleyas, Percivilliana is the earliest, 

 commencing to bloom in the fall and continuing nearly 

 to Christmas. This is followed by C. Trianse, which 

 should be in flower during the period cut flowers are 

 most in demand, from January to April. 



C. Mossiie blooms through the spring until the ap- 

 pearance of warm weather. 



With these four varieties a succession of flowers may 

 be obtained extending through the months during 

 which the sale of cut flowers is most profitable. 



This small list is the most suitable for a beginner, be 

 he florist or amateur. Other varieties can be added 

 from time to time as desired, but those mentioned will 

 will be found to give a succession of bloom, and should 

 constitute the bulk of a stock kept for flowering. 



In watering, the same principle should be observed 

 with Orchids as with other plants. During the period 



