IRISH GARDENING 



litial l^>.st.- iiiamut.- shoiiKl la- <:i\t'ii at allrriialr 

 \\atc'riiig.s twite a week until the hiuls liave 

 expanded as nnieh as to show eoloiir. Aiixiliaix 

 l)iids on the main stem will also appear. l)iit 

 these must be removed early to prexent aiiv 

 loss c)f nutriment to the terminal 1)U(1. 



A small box of Mowers of suli)hnr mu>t l»e 

 kept near at hand, anil whene\er mildew makes 

 its presenee apply a pineh of the good stulT t(i 

 the atfeeted {)arts. rul)bing it on gently betwi-c-n 

 the finger anil thumb. An irregular temperatuic 

 and the effeets of a eold wind are frequently 

 two main eauses of mildew. Another torment 

 the eultivator has often got to eo])e with is the 

 '■ worm in the buil, " but an ob.servant eye will 

 quiekly keep this enemy at bay. As the flower 

 buds will now be tilling uj) and signs of colour 

 showing, a gradual increase of air must be gi\en 

 at the top to iiuu-e the buds and foliage to more 

 hardy conditions. 



\N'hen the flowers are lit to cut. always cut 

 them with a good length of stem where 2Jossil)le, 

 as they can then be made more decorative in 

 vases, and the plant is induced to break lower 

 down for the {)roduction of shoots for secondary 

 llowers. It is important that the flowers should 

 be cut in the early morning, before the sun 

 shines upon them, or it may be done late in the 

 evening. They will be found to last much 

 longer if this rule is carried out. 



As soon as the flowering period is over, the 

 time has arrived when the plants should be 

 repotted. Other i)ots, eight and nine inches in 

 iliametcr, must be looked out, thoroughly 

 washed and allowed to dry. Ensure good 

 drainage in being particular that fibrous pieces 

 of turf are neatly laid compact over the layer of 

 crocks. A good rich, heavv loam, preferably 

 that which has been stacked for several months, 

 is the principal ingredient the compost should 

 contain. Dried cow manure, leaf mould of the 

 best quality, wood ashes, lime rubble and bone 

 meal should also be included in small quantities. 

 Mix the whole well together, and the actual 

 repotting operation may then be commenced. 

 Shake most of the old soil from the roots, and use 

 a rammer to ensure firm potting. Return the 

 plants to the house, in which a close atmosphere 

 must now- be maintained for a few days. S))ray 

 the pots and plants morning and afternoon to 

 keep the foliage as normal as possible. \\'hcu 

 signs of fresh root -action appear, ventilate the 

 house more freely, until the plants are thoroughly 

 hardened. About the first -week in June remove 

 the plants to a sunny, but rather sheltered, 

 position outside. Plunge the pots over the rim 

 in soil or ashes. Their future attention after- 

 wards, until Noveml)er again, will be to make 

 sure the plants do not suffer from drought . They 



will grow and lltiwcr a sccoiidaiv ((dp, while 

 iiuicased nn»t actidii will be iU'\elo[)ing for next 

 seasons result. Tlir abo\i- summer ])ositii)ii 

 gives them an ideal opportunity of ripening their 

 wood and buds, which is essentially a ver\- 

 im])ortant factor towai'ds the pi'oduct ion of the 

 liiiest blooms. 



There is almost an endless \aricty of good 

 Koscs to clioosc fioin. Iiut my selection of thirty 

 would inelude the tol lowing : Hy brill Per- 

 petuals Hugh Dickson, F. K. Druschki. Horace 

 \ernct. Mrs. .1. Laing. A. K. Williams, Mrs. 

 I\. C;. Sharman Crawford. Hybrid Teas — 

 C'ai-olinc Tcstout. Bessie Brown. Countess of 

 Caledon. Dean Hole, G. C. Wand, (leorgc 

 Dickson, ha France, L. C. Breslau, L\on Hose. 

 Mad. M. Soupert, Mrs. W. J. Grant. William 

 Shcan. Teas — Bridesmaid, Catherine Mermet, 

 C. de Xadaillac, Mad. C. .Soupert, Maman 

 Cochet, Medea, Molly 8. Crawford, Mrs. FA. 

 Mawley, Mrs. M. Kennedy, The Bride, Muriel 

 Grahame and White Maman Cochet. j 



Calanthes. 



By T. W. Biuscoio. 



These are such valuable plants for winter work, 

 and they are often grown where a general 

 collection of Orchids are not attempted, that a ! 



few hints on their culture may prove interesting 

 and. I trust, helpful to some readers of Irlsh 

 Gakuening. For the last few weeks they have 

 been resting. Where the atmosphere has been 

 fairly dry and the average temperature 55° F., 

 growth will soon commence, and then the 

 annual repotting must be carried out. All the 

 old soil is removed and the dead roots cut away, 

 with the exception of a little tuft to hold the 

 bulbs in ])osition. >Some growers place several 

 bulbs in one receptacle, but. personally, 1 have j 



found it more convenient to give each bulb a 1 



separate pot. The bulbs must be graded, and 

 the largest and full sized may be given a jjot 

 six inches in diameter, and the smaller ones in j 



proportion. Each pot should be filled one- 

 third of its depth with drainage, over which is j 

 placed a thin la\er of rough fibry loam to secure ' 

 a free outlet for water. The principal ingredient [ 

 in the compost is the best librous loam, with a 

 little good peat, sphagnum moss and crushed 

 crocks added. If the loam is deficient in fibre 

 a portion of Osmmida fibre may be incorporated. 

 The shoot or growing jjoint is placed in the j 

 middle of the pot, and the soil is pressed I 

 moderately firm, but it must be just below the j 

 rim, to allow sjiace for watering. j 

 When the repotting is finished, arrange the i 

 jKjts in the })lant stove, cucumber house, or j 



