For December, 1921 



807 



Cattlcya labiata aiittdimalis may m-t-d repottini;. It has 

 finished its blooniiny and is just ready to make new- 

 growth. Take carefully out of its receptacle, removing 

 worn out roots and compost. Place in a clean pot or 

 pan and leave sufficient space for the next two years' 

 growth. They do not like to be disturbed and once in 

 two years is all that is necessary. Cut the dead flower 

 sheath completely away because in this variety it is con- 

 ducive to decay. Peat, moss, and charcoal lumps inter- 

 spersed is an ideal compost. After repotting keep them 

 away from the hot pipes and do not water heavily. L'se 

 an Abol syringe during the \Mnter months. .\ little 

 spraying is beneficial. 



Oncidium splcndidiim is sending up its magnificent 

 spikes of bloom. It now requires a fair amotnit of water. 

 It dislikes spraying and if abused in this manner will be 

 lost. It grows better on the dry side the greater part 

 of the season. Roaches must be poisoned with sugar 

 and paris green, as they will work havoc among orchid 

 liloonis if allowed full play. 



Lwlia anccps is commencing to bloom and is the most 

 congenial orchid we have, but likes a sunny aspect. Its 

 spikes must be protected from snails. .\I1 orchids should 

 be sponged monthly with warm rain water. No insecti- 

 cides should touch them or their fleshv roots wiil perish. 

 Cyanide fumigation is ideal for orchids and scale and 

 mealy bug will succuml) under its use. It must, of 

 course, be used at night. 



Blair's prolific cucumber is a small fine-shaped cucum- 

 ber for mid-Winter work, and does not require the 

 coddling the usual varieties demand. It will succeed in 

 eight-inch pots in any ordinary compost and is no trouble 

 at all. and the flavor is perfect. 



just lake an interest in il. and you will see — well try, 

 and finr] out! — South American Gardening and Country 

 Life. 



GARDENING AS A HOBBY 



{Continncd from page 804) 



you treat them projjerly. three of the most important 

 points to consider being the following : 



Climate. 



Soil. 



Position. 



1. Grow plants that are used to your climate and do 

 not be disappointed if plants used to different seasons do 

 not thrive : it is not always the nurseryman's fault. Plants, 

 such as Dafl'odils. used to Winter rains and Summer 

 heat in the Cape, cannot be expected to take kindly to 

 Transvaal cold, dry Winter, when the plants want rain 

 so as to grow, or the Summer with the rains when they 

 want to rest. This is where a greenhouse is handy. 



2. Another most important point in growing plants 

 is consideration of the soil they like. Just as you would 

 n.ot give a horse meat or a dog hay, so you should not 

 put a plant — bulbs for instance, in stifif cla\-, or roses that 

 like clay in sand, for plants used to the same climate do 

 not like the same soil. One reason is that dift'erent soils 

 contain various degrees of water and a plant used to a 

 light soil where water does remain long will soon rot in 

 a heavy water-logged clay. 



3. Position, too, must always be considered when 

 jjlanting. as some plants like the sun, some the shade. 

 Some plants must have the sun to open their flowers, 

 growmg long and lanky in the shade, while broad leaved 

 plants become parched and dusty in the sun. 



For the actual growing of things, how, when, and 

 where to plant, there are numbers of reference books, 

 the Annual "lUoii-cr dardcii," "Gardciiing Magazine," 

 etc. ; and books on each subject connected with garden- 

 ing. If you want any particular kind of soil. loam. clay, 

 leafmoldor manure, you can buy them, and if you want 

 to make vour garden a lovely, fragrant, living picture, 



BIRDS CHECK RODENT AND INSECT 

 PLAGUES 



■yV/ HEN William N. Craig spoke before the ,Xew 

 ** York Florists' Club last week he made the state- 

 ment that if the Federal Government would give more 

 encouragement to the propagation and conservation of 

 bird life this action would have a more beneficial effect 

 on plant life than the. in many cases, fruitless attempts 

 to stamp out insect pests through quarantine legislation. 



Xow coriies a Eiulletin from the Ohio Fxperiment Sta- 

 tion on "Some Ohio Birds.'' which reads: 



"The increase of rodents, insects and other injurious 

 life would be a natural consequence following the reduc- 

 tion of their natural enemies {i. c. the birds). There 

 would also be a decrease of vegetation proportionate to 

 the increase of insects and rodents dependent thereon 

 for food." 



The weekly press IniUetin of the Ohio .Agricultural 

 Experiment Station then goes on to say : 



Plagues of rodents have generally followed a reduction 

 in the numbers of rapacious birds. Nevada suffered a 

 plague durmg 1907-1908 which resulted in great loss to 

 ranchmen. The plague subsided only after the ranchmen 

 stopped destroying hawks, owls, crows, ravens and gulls 

 that flocked iti'to the infested region. 



With the exception of the English sparrow, practically 

 all other species are beneficial to the farmer, according to 

 entomologists ; and in some cases the English sparrows 

 are developing an appetite for insects and weed seeds, 

 but they still drive away native birds by destroying eggs, 

 young and nesting places. 



Note that the usual slam is given to the English spar- 

 row and that it is accused of driving away native birds 

 by destroying their eggs, their young, and their nesting 

 places. Where we live we have seen the English sparrow- 

 driven oft' by native birds, and today there are practically 

 none of that snecies in our locality. Our native Blue 

 Jay, however, does exactly what the English sparrow- is 

 accused of doing. How-ever. if our birds were better 

 cared for and protected so that they would be plentiful 

 on the face of the earth instead of comparatively scarce 

 as they are now in all too many sections, no one need 

 have the slightest doubt but that our gardens and fields 

 would suft'er far less from rodents and insect plagues 

 than is now the case.— Florists' E-xxhange. 



THE OLDEST LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS 



TREE 



ST. W inifred. one of the greatest Christian missionaries, 

 is said to have been" cutting down a sacred (^ak 

 which had been an object of worship by the pagans. 

 While he was hewing down the huge tree it was 

 blasted and uprooted by a whirlwind. Close beside 

 it was a young Fir tree, which was not harmed, either 

 by the w'hirlwind or the fall of the Oak. Then St. 

 Winifred is reported to have said to the pagans: 

 "This little tree, a young child of the forest, shall be 

 your holy tree tonight. It is the wood of peace, for 

 Vour homes are built of it. It is the sign of an end- 

 less life, for its leaves are always green. See liow^ it 

 points to heaven! Let this be called the tree of the 

 Christ Child! Gather about it. not in the woods, but 

 in your homes. There it will shelter no deeds of 

 blood, but only loving gifts and acts of kindness." 

 — Florist F.vchangc. 



