IRISH GARDENING 



Vanda casrulea. 



By Ernest Bewley, Danum, Bathgar, 

 Co- Dublin. 



Vanda c.*;ki\lea stands supreme among the 

 Vandas, not alone for colour, but also for its 

 wealth of bloom ; more than a score of flowers 

 have been obtained on 

 a single raceme. The 

 accompanying photo- 

 graph is of a specimen 

 grown here, and although 

 it only carried ten flowers, 

 it was an object of much 

 admiration. The flow ers 

 are large, about Tour 

 inches across, of a beau- 

 tiful pale lavender-blue. 

 prettily tessellated with 

 a darker shade. 



V. cserulea does not 

 require as much heat as 

 other Vandas. hut does 

 well in an intermediate 

 temperature, or even 

 cooler ; it likes plenty of 

 air, and it should only 

 be shaded from 1 he hot- 

 test sunshine. Abun- 

 dance of water n u ist lie 

 given during the growing 

 season, but withheld al- 

 most entirely when at 

 rest. It thrives hesl in 

 a teak basket, where its 

 roots are not con lined 



Primulas* 



By W. 11. Greene. 



These are among the 



most useful of winter 

 flowering plants ; at this 

 1 inie of year their hand- 

 some 1 russes of delicately- 

 tinted flowers in the 

 midst of rich green 

 foliage make them very 

 attractive in the green- 

 house mixed with other 

 suitable plants. Few 

 greenhouse annuals have 

 improved to the extent 

 of the Primula of late 

 years, especially the sin- 

 ensis type, of which we 

 have such a varietv of 

 delightful colours. 'The 

 Stellata also has claimed 

 considerable attention. 



Too much cannot he said with regard to the use- 

 fulness of this plant : it forms a striking feature 

 with its pyramids of starlike flowers, often rising 

 IS inches above the foliage. For house decoration 

 it is most valuable, lasting such a long time in 

 bloom. 



All of this section require similar cultural 

 treatment, which is not difficult to give. Seed 

 should be sown early in May to obtain good 

 strong plants by the autumn. Prepare clean, 

 well-drained seed pans, lill to an inch of the top 



Photo b,i\ 



with a nice light compost'eonsisting of fine loam 

 and leaf-mould equal parts, with plenty of sharp 

 sand added. Cover the seeds lighily with -oil 

 passed through a fine sieve, wafer with a line 

 rose-can, then place the pans in a warm moist 

 temperature and cover them with a sheet of glass, 

 guarding against drought at all times. When 

 Die seedlings appear well above the soil remove 

 the glass ami place the pans near the roof glass 

 in tin' shade to keep 

 the little seedlings from 

 becoming weak and 

 drawn. After t hey have 

 made a few rough b'a\ es 

 they should be potted 

 singly into small pots 

 in a similar mixture of 

 pott ing material. Keep 

 them in a growing tem- 

 perature shaded from 

 the sun till they have 

 obtained possession of 

 I he new- soil ; by this 

 time a cold frame situ- 

 ated in a partly shaded 

 position will suit them. 

 Ventilate freely. also 

 keep a close watch for 

 greenfly, to which they 

 are very suscepl ible ; 

 fumigating every few 

 weeks will keep Ibis in 

 .•heck. As growth ad- 

 vances they should re- 

 ceive at ten! ion with 

 regard to potting. Pots 

 5 inches in diameter an 

 quite large enough for 

 the lirst-named section 

 to ftowei in ; a size 

 larger should be given the 

 P. stellata. as Ibis is a 

 much stronger grower. 

 The soil for tin- final 

 potting should consisl 

 of good mellow fibrous 

 loam and leaf-mould, the 

 latter passed through 

 a quarter inch sieve, in 

 equal parts, w it h a good 

 quantity of sharp sand 

 well mixed. 



When pot tiic: cart- 

 must be taken not to 

 have the plants too low 

 in the pots, as this often 

 tends to damping off. 

 On the approach of 

 autumn the plants should 

 he transferred to the 

 greenhouse, where they 

 are intended to bloom. 



During the flowering 



period a little Clay's 



pricked into the soil will 



[Ernest Bewley 



Vanda c.^kii.ka- 



Fertilizer carefully 

 greatly assist thcni. 



J> & & 

 Lone Flower, hemmed in with snows and white 



Hut hardier'far. once more 1 see the bend 



Thy forehead, as if fearful to offend, 



Like an unbidden guest ... m mna 



Chaste Snowdrop, venturous harbingc of ■ * m . 



^dpensivemonitoroffleetingyears.-JFortf^r^ 



