150 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST 
[ July, 
purpose. Larger plants may indeed be grown for tlie summer decoration of 
greenhouses, for which purpose in early spring the old plants should be intro¬ 
duced into heat, cutting them freely back, and as soon as they make growth, the 
soil should be shaken from the roots, and the plants repotted in small pots accord¬ 
ing to the reduced state, and then encouraged to grow in n genial temperature. 
With attention they form fine large plants, which, gradually hardened off, make 
famous objects for conservatory embellishments during the warm months of 
summer. Green-fly and red-spider are apt to attack them, more particularly 
when allowed to become dry at the root, or if kept in a close dry atmosphere ; 
but timely fumigation, and dusting with sulphur, or syringing with clear soot- 
water, will keep them in check. Amongst the most desirable varieties to grow 
are:— 
Bouvardia jasminoides longipetala. —A pure white, vigorous-growing sort, which pro¬ 
duces large corymbs of bloom; one of the very best and most desirable varieties, 
B. Humboldtii corymbiflora,— Another of the B. jasminoides type; a strong growing 
variety, with snow-white fragrant flowers; the individual blossoms are of great size, and 
are exceedingly useful for using singly in getting up bouquets. (See figure.) 
B. Vreelandii, alias Davisoni. —A very useful decorative variety, which stands well, and 
flowers profusely ; the blossoms are blush-white. 
B. elegans. —Scarlet; a vigorous grower, fine for winter blooming; one of the most 
desirable varieties. ^ 
B. LONGiFLORA FLAMMBA. —A liaudsome I'ose-coloured variety, of fine habit ; one of the 
best for decorative purposes 
B. Hogarth. —Scarlet; fine habit. 
These are six of the very best and most desirable kinds for general purposes ; 
but should greater variety be an object, there is no lack of sorts to select from. 
— Geo. Westland, Witley Court. 
OECHIDS AS FLOKISTS^ FLOWEES. 
^p.^OTWITHSTANDING the grotesqueness of form and feature of the general 
run of Orchidaceous flowers, they are fast being elevated, as the florist 
would say—degraded, as the botanist might say—to the rank of florists’ 
flowers. However startling this assumption may at first sight appear to 
many, it nevertheless can be supported by evidence, by irrefragable evidence, in 
fact. Take any popular species, for instance, and what do we find ? Why, this, 
that the variety that will best stand the severe scrutiny of a florist’s eye is by far 
the most valuable. The same law that enacts that form, substance, colour, and 
general symmetry shall take precedence over the general ruck of florists’ flowers, 
holds good among all popular Orchids. Any one can find this out by going to 
market to purchase the rarities—not the rarities of species Only, but the rarities 
among varieties of species. The fact is, so innumerable are the importations of 
recent years, and so very numerous the varieties of species, that two-thirds of the 
poor varieties—poor, recollect, from a florist’s point of view—are all but un¬ 
saleable, at least, if people buy them, it is only to get rid of them as soon as 
possible after they have proved themselves. I recollect well when I began culti¬ 
vating Orchids, I was most anxious to secure anything in the way of a species, no 
