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May  30,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  vOTTAGE  GARDENER. 
once  had  some  cabinets  made  from  new  cedar  wood  in  order  to  keep 
off  insects ;  a  collection  of  birds’  eggs  was  transferred  to  one  of  these 
cabinets,  and  some  months  afterwards  he  was  amazed  to  find  the 
colourings  of  the  eggs  completely  changed,  as  they  had  all  been 
varnished  by  the  deposition  of  the  resin  from  the  cedar  wood.  This 
resin  also  affects  printers’  ink  ;  a  bank-note  was  once  presented  at  the 
Bank  of  England  with  the  printed  matter  so  smudged  as  to  lead  to  its 
rejection.y  It  puzzled  the  authorities  for  some  time  to  account  for  its 
disreputable  appearance,  until  their  surgeon  suggested,  what  afterwards 
proved  to  be  the  case,  that  it  had  been  preserved  in  a  cedar  box. 
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Floral  Decorations. 
Why  do  we  not  more  often  have  our  dining  tables  beautified  with 
bright  blossoms?  asks  Winona  Leigh,  in  “American  Gardening.”  It 
is  so  easy,  I  have  found,  if  one  only  forms  the  habit  of  always  having 
a  plant,  bouquet,  or  only  two  or  three  bright  blossoms  with  plenty  of 
foliage.  The  table  will  look  so  much  more  inviting,  especially  in  the 
spring  time,  when  our  appetites  need  to  be  encouraged.  True  beauty 
is  not  always  effected  by  using  choice  and  expensive  flowers.  An 
especially  pretty  and  dainty  centrepiece,  which  will  last  for  weeks,  can 
be  had  by  arranging  several  small  plants  or  wild  flowers  on  a  shallow 
or  deep  glass  dish,  taking  up  enough  of  the  mother  earth  so  that  the 
roots  will  not  be  injured,  and  press  firmly  together  in  mound  shape, 
using  the  tall  specimens  for  centre  of  dish.  You  will  find  the  early 
Hepaticas,  and  all  the  Violets,  swamp  varieties  being  most  desirable) 
particularly  adapted  for  this  idea.  If  given  plenty  of  moisture  the 
buds  will  unfold  in  a  surprising  manner.  Have  you  ever  used  the 
deep  pink  and  white  Apple  blossoms  ?  If  not,  try  them,  for  I  know 
you  will  say,  “  How  beautiful !  ” 
Another  lovely  piece  can  be  had  by  making  an  oval  shape  of  any 
soft  green  moss  on  a  shallow  dish  or  plate  ;  then  place  in  the  moss  a 
liberal  amount  of  fine  green  foliage  from  2  to  4  inches  in  length, 
arranging  the  edge  in  fringe  form,  and  it  will  be  found  that  a  very 
few  blossoms  will  suffice  to  make  a  charming  display.  Nasturtiums, 
which  can  be  purchased  for  a  very  small  sum  in  July,  I  especially 
advise,  their  many  tinted  petals  being  especially  appropriate  and 
attractive  for  an  orange  luncheon  or  dinner.  There  are  many  other 
flowers  which  are  well  suited  for  this  purpose,  Pansies,  Verbenas,  small 
Roses,  and  many  of  the  hardy  shrub  blooms  being  particularly 
beautiful.  It  will  always  be  much  more  pleasant  to  have  the  decoration 
for  the  centre  of  the  table  rather  low,  that  they  may  not  interfere  with 
one’s  view  of  others. 
One  of  the  daintiest  arrangements  of  Roses  can  be  had  by  using 
the  common  wild  Sweet  Brier,  filling  a  deep,  round,  or  oblong  glass 
dish  with  generous  sprays,  using  an  abundance  of  their  own  delicate 
foliage.  Grace  and  harmony  of  colour  must  never  be  overlooked. 
Try  to  have  them  look  natural,  never  allowing  more  than  three 
varieties  or  colours  in  the  same  vase  or  bouquet,  using  foliage  freely. 
You  will  find  that  a  few  dainty  grasses  add  very  much  to  the  artistio 
effect  with  some  kinds  of  flowers.  Birthdays,  holidays,  and  Christmas, 
our  tables  can  be  beautifully  decorated  witn  the  simple,  graceful  Vines, 
both  wild  and  cultivated ;  also  the  many  varieties  of  Ferns  which  are 
so  easily  procured.  Small  sprays  of  Japanese  Honeysuckle,  with  their 
odd  green  and  white  foliage,  laid  about  on  a  white  damask  cloth,  are 
extremely  pretty,  and  the  common  Honeysuckle,  with  its  dainty  cream 
and  white  blossoms,  is  always  admired.  Do  not  forget  to  gather  the 
Ferns  or  any  Vine  used  from  two  to  four  hours  before  the  meal, 
keeping  them  in  a  cool,  dark  place,  where  they  may  take  a  good,  full, 
drink  of  water,  which  will  preserve  them  fresh  for  a  long  while. 
Every  spring  I  long  for  the  glorious  wild  Cowslips,  having  found 
the  low,  small  plants  wonderfully  attractive  when  arranged  in  a  glass 
dish,  as  also  suggested  for  Violets.  Some  tall  large  plants  on  my 
piazza  were  greatly  admired  for  weeks  last  spring.  If  gathered  early 
you  will  have  buds  opening  every  day.  In  November,  when  we  have 
only  hardy  Chrysanthemums  left  for  the  table,  remember  to  purchase 
from  a  florist  one  dozen  sprays  of  English  Ivy,  about  a  foot  in  length, 
accepting  only  fresh  new  sprouts.  Arrange  them  in  a  large-mouthed, 
deep  glass  vase,  and  you  may  have  what  I  consider  a  very  desirable 
bouquet  for  your  dining  table  all  winter.  Very  soon  you  will  find 
roots  developing,  and  the  whole  effect  is  most  satisfactory.  Always, 
for  good  health,  put  in  the  bottom  of  vase  a  piece  of  charcoal  about 
the  size  of  a  large  Walnut  ;  do  not  change  the  water,  but  fill  up  when 
needed;  in  the  spring  time  plant  the  Ivy  by  the  house  wall,  an 
eastern  exposure  is  best,  and  in  a  few  years  you  will  have  an  abundance 
for  yourself  and  friends. — Winona  Leigh. 
Phalaenopeis  Schilleriana. 
The  Phalmnopsis  as  a  genus,  are  Orchids  that  require  considerable 
skilful  attention  to  cultivate  them  successfully.  P.  Schilleriana  i» 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  species  of  Phalsenopsis  known,  both  in 
foliage,  which  is  attractively  marbled,  and  flowers.  Our  illustration  is- 
of  a  plant  that  bore  1800  flowers  at  one  time,  at  Chelsea.  This  was 
some  years  ago.  The  Phalaenopeis  require  shady  conditions  and  a 
warm,  moist  atmosphere. 
Dendrobium  Fytchianum. 
The  taste  for  showy  flowered  Orchids  that  make  a  good  display  has 
elbowed  many  of  the  small  but  pretty  flowered  species  almost  out  of 
cultivation.  D.  Fytchianum  is  one  of  these,  yet  it  is  an  interesting 
plant,  and  one  that  used  to  be  thought  a  good  deal  of.  The  blossoms 
are  pure  white  excepting  a  tuft  of  yellowish  hairs  on  the  lip.  The 
species  is  found  under  cultivation  to  be  specially  attractive  to  thrips, 
but  if  the  plant  can  be  kept  clear  of  these  its  culture  is  not  at  all 
difficult.  Very  small  pots  or  pans  must  be  used,  and  the  house  wherein 
it  is  grown  must  be  hot  and  moist. 
Miltonia  Warscewiczi. 
The  blossoms  of  this  species  are  very  quaint  and  pretty,  and  it 
should  be  more  popular.  The  spikes  rise  from  the  new  bulb,  and  are 
large,  carrying  a  number  of  flowers,  the  sepals  and  petals  being  reddish 
brown,  with  white  or  yellow  tips.  The  lip  has  a  purple  blotch  on  a 
whitish  or  yellow  ground,  and  the  plants  are  now  passing  out  of 
flower.  Liking  less  sun  and  more  heat  than  most  Miltonias,  it  is 
usual  to  grow  it  in  the  East  Indian  house.  The  pots  must  be  of 
medium  size  only,  and  the  compost  kept  thin  and  open.  Daily 
syringing  in  hot  dry  weather  is  advisable,  but  this  must  be 
discontinued  when  dull  or  wet  weather  ensues. 
Dendrobium  Victoria  Regina, 
This  pretty  Dendrobium  does  not,  in  most  cases,  appear  very  happy 
under  cultivation,  and  the  reason  is,  in  many  cases,  that  nothing  is 
done  to  provide  a  hold  for  the  roots  of  the  small  pseudo-bulbs  as  they 
are  emitted.  As  many  as  possible  should  be  brought  in  some  way  to 
touch  the  compost,  and  a  flat  block  lightly  dressed  with  moss  gives 
a  better  surface  for  the  purpose  than  the  usual  pot  or  basket.  Checks 
from  a  fluctuating  atmosphere  are  also  injurious,  and  must  be  avoided. 
The  flowers  occur  on  few-flowered  racemes,  and  the  pale  segments  are 
prettily  tipped  with  violet  or  purple. 
Sobralia  macrantha  alba. 
There  are  few  more  lovely  albinos  than  this  Sobralia,  it  being  of 
very  elegant  shape  and  pure  white,  with  the  exception  of  a  yellow 
stain  in  the  centre  of  the  lip,  which  greatly  enhances  its  beauty. 
Unfortunately  the  flowers  are  at  their  best  only  for  a  day  or  so,  but  the 
quick  succession  produced  from  the  same  stem  keeps  up  a  display.  It 
is  not  so  tall  as  the  typical  macrantha — at  least  I  have  never  seen  it  so 
tall — but  is  similar  in  growth  and  manner  of  flowering.  It  must  have 
a  sound  compost  of  loam,  peat,  and  moss,  and  plenty  of  water  while 
growing. 
Aerides  Houlletianum. 
This  pretty  species  has  never  become  common,  and  it  is  now 
seldom  seen.  I  am  in  receipt  of  flowers  from  a  Midland  collection. 
In  habit  the  plant  is  like  A,  expansum,  but  the  leaves  are 
narrower  and  the  blossoms  are  smaller  in  the  raceme  and  individually. 
In  colour  these  are  brownish  yellow,  with  spots  of  purple  on  the  sepals 
and  petals,  an  unusual  combination  in  this  genus.  Like  many  other 
of  the  Aerides  it  is  worthy  of  more  extended  culture,  for  either  in  or 
out  of  bloom  the  plant  is  strictly  ornamental,  which  many  Orchids 
much  more  run  after  are  not.  A.  Houlletianum  is  named  after 
M  Houllet  of  the  Jardin  des  Plantes.  It  flowered  first  of  all  in  a 
French  collection  in  1868,  and  not  until  some  eight  years  later  in  this 
country.  A  native  of  Cochin  China,  it  delights  in  ample  heat  and 
moisture  while  making  its  growth,  and  those  in  charge  of  the  plants- 
