90 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



The Greenhouse, Month to Month 



W. R. FOWKES 



K 



MARCH and early April are exacting periods in 

 plant growth. Nature has aroused from her 

 slumbers and all is active. The sunshine and 

 extra daylight demand more attention to details. 



The vinery, where the most luscious fruit is to be 

 garnened next November, has gained new vigor. The 

 new growths must be disbudded, but one must be 

 careful to leave sufficient lateral growths with good 

 eyes. Allow a little air on the top of the house all 

 night, and avoid scalding the tender shoots. The bor- 

 der must be watered thoroughly and a moist atmos- 

 phere maintained inside. Check the fires early in the 

 day, although on dull days it is policy to give brisk 

 heat and air. 



Peach and nectarines in pots that have set a good 

 crop must be carefully disbudded. There is no mys- 

 terv about this. Take away with thumb and finger 

 every third growth, leaving enough to form next 

 year's plant. Keep the roots well supplied with water, 

 and the drainage should be kept clean. Give for a 

 foliage stimulant one ounce of sulphate of iron in one 

 gallon of water, twice a week. It will tone up the 

 plants' systems. Syringe these plants every afternoon 

 at three o'clock, standard time, thoroughly wetting 

 the paths and closing the house entirely. At six 

 o'clock open the top ventilator one or two inches, but 

 no more. The warm afternoon treatment is conducive 

 to rapid growth and development of the small fruits, 

 as the June sunshine is to outdoor fruits. The open 

 ventilators at night are the means of solidifying and 

 resting the plant. Growth and rest are necessary in 

 plant as well as in human life. 



Palms need sufficient shading to maintain their 

 health and vigor. They must not be allowed lo be- 

 come dry at the roots, and in regard to food, they like 

 more rich fertilizer than any plant grown. Spray with 

 ivorv soap at least once a fortnight, and thus keep 

 the i)lants clean of scaly pests that so disfigure the 

 young growths and leave their hideous mark. Bo- 

 tanicallv speaking, palms together with bananas and 

 most tufted plants are drained by the centripetal sys- 

 tem, that is, the slope of the leaves and stems is such 

 that the water, when applied overhead is led towards 

 the trunk, so that syringing is not only useful but 

 necessary. Give more air along with extra heat. 



Keep young crotons clean. .Avoid stimulants to get 

 a quick growth. Wlu-n the final pot is reached, jjlcnty 

 of plant food will benefit, but if you kill young roots 

 now, the leaves will fall. 



The last batch of strawberries in pots will re(|uire 

 a little Clay's fertilizer to fini.sh off their fruit. Give 

 plenty of air and water. .\ shelf is a good place for 

 them. 



Pot up the earl)' Summer batch of tuberoses. Place 

 four bulbs in a six-inch pot, using humus and cow man- 

 ure. They will succeed better in this compost than in 

 anything else. 



In the orchid houses, more shade is necessary; also 

 a little change of plants to different parts. Lcclia an- 

 ceps. having blossomed, should be hung up near the 

 ventilators. It does not require so much water now 

 as it will in six weeks. 



Renantheras are jnishing out their spikes. Keep 

 them near the glass. Give the vandas a cool position, 

 especially the cccrulca. which is not often seen in good 

 flowering condition. Too much heat and dryness is 

 the frequent reason. Place them over a bed of oak 

 leaves and fill the nodules with rain water every day. 

 These plants need it more than many orchid plants. 

 Rain water is the proper food for orchids. No stimu- 

 lant is needed, as the rain has captured all the nitrogen 

 and sulphur these plants require. 



Miltonia I'cxUlaria, commonly called odontoglos- 

 siiiii: or the ])ansy orchid, is making rapid strides to- 

 wards blooming, by strong growths that will send 

 forth some fine spikes of bloom in May. Watch that 

 aphis does not disfigure these beautiful plants. 



Cvmbidiums are easilv iirown. thrivin"' best if left 

 , - . - '^ -s ^ 



alone m a corner. 



Chrysanthemum plants are on their way, and the 

 exhibition kinds are now in four-inch pots. They can 

 be kept cool as possible in a house or a cool frame; 

 40 degrees at night is high enough. Keep free from 

 aphis. 



Spray your carnations more than usual to keep 

 clear of red spider. Carnation plants should be placed 

 in cold frames ready for planting outdoors. 



Tulips are now coming into their own and are ar- 

 rayed in all their glory. Abundance of water and 

 liquid manure is necessary for perfect growth. 



Calla Elliottiana is a useful Summer blossomer. Its 

 lovely yellow blooms and variegated leaves are greatly 

 admired. 



Liliiini laiuifoliinii should be started in six-inch 

 l)()ts. Do not use retarded bulbs of this varietv as 

 they have not proved useful, in fact, they are of no 

 use. The same applies to gladioli. Do not use cold 

 storage bulbs as thev do not pay. Lily of the valley 

 is, of course, all right. 



Fill all emptv wire hanging baskets with . Isparat^iis 

 Sprengerii. 



Achimcncs are also useful and make a great dis])lav. 

 The}- demand much water twice daily. 



Acacias arc noble, liard wooded plants, liking ])eat 

 soil to grow in, and the avoidance of artificial fer- 

 tilizer. Their culture is (|uite simple. After their 

 blooming ]jeriod is ].)ast. keep cool ; cut back .straggly 

 growths and syringe gently. .Xt the end of May they 

 can be ])hmgcd outdoors in coal ashes to the rim of 

 the pots. 



Azaleas should be given cool treatment. Soot water 

 is a safe stinnilant. 'S'ou can time them for Easter 

 blooming, an<l if late, tluy are adaptable to extra heat 

 for forcing. 



Camellias should not be excited. He careful to 

 kec]) flrainage clean. Do not feed until blooms are 

 ])ast. Then take ofi' all seed pods, cut out dead twigs, 

 clean the scale off. and apply Clay's fertilizer in a 

 li(|uid form the next two months while buds are 

 formed. 



Ihtddlcla asiatica and kindred varieties should now 

 be in four-inch pots and grown on in a good rich com- 

 post until eight or nine-inch pots are reached in orrler 

 to bloom well next November. 



