March 28, 1894.] 



Garden and Forest. 



125 



Work in Glass Houses. 



AT this time many plants grown under glass must be re- 

 potted, and this change gives a good opportunity for 

 cleaning the houses. Any necessary sponging of the plants 

 should be done before repotting them, for newly potted plants 

 are likely to be disturbed by this work, and if they become 

 loosened in the pots they seldom make a good start. The 

 wood-work in the interior of the greenhouse should be well 

 washed ; many insects are thus disposed of, and the appear- 

 ance of the house is much improved. The material with 

 which the stages have been covered also needs to be re- 

 newed now, and it is well to give the bottom of the stages a 

 coat of whitewash containing a few spoonfuls of carbolic acid. 

 The pots may be stood on clear fine gravel, which provides 

 good drainage and does not soon become sour; if this is not 

 at hand, clean sand or coal-ashes will answer very well. The 

 pots themselves must be kept clean, for the greater success of 

 the plants as well as for appearance sake, for nothing detracts 



out of the old soil completely and by the removal of decayed 

 parts of the tuber with a sharp knife, taking the precaution to 

 dip the cut in slaked lime to prevent further decay. A. ma- 

 crorhiza, A. Jenningsii and A. Marshalli, all of which are valu- 

 able sorts, should have somewhat heavier and stronger soil 

 than the varieties first noted, and will nourish under condi- 

 tions suitable for the growth of Caladiums. Marantas will be 

 improved by repotting ; the stock may be increased by division. 

 All these plants require careful watering after repotting, for 

 with the soil once soured there is small chance for success, 

 especially with the delicate-rooted species. 



Dieffenbachias are noble-looking plants when well grown, 

 but, while some of the species are quite tender about the 

 roots, they are gross feeders, and enjoy a rich and open soil 

 containing a liberal quantity of dried cow-manure. Curmerias, 

 Phyllotaeniums, Kasmpferias, Sphasrogyne latifolia, Cyanophyl- 

 lums and other warm-house foliage-plants will also be start- 

 ing, and should be encouraged by repotting before the growth 

 is far advanced, or the first effort may produce stunted foliage. 



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Fig. 24. — An Iris Garden in Japan. — See page 122. 



more from the effect of a good collection of plants than filthy 

 pots. 



Many of the warm-house plants will be improved by a shift 

 into larger pots, but this is not needful in all instances ; a good 

 top-dressing is quite sufficient for some, including the foliage 

 species and the flowering kinds of Anthuriums. This applies 

 only to healthy plants, for if the roots of Anthuriums are not 

 in good condition it is better to shake all the old soil off and 

 give the roots a washing previous to repotting. It is also an 

 improvement to these plants to cover the soil with living 

 sphagnum, for they are, to a great extent, surface-rooting, and 

 the growing sphagnum is quite agreeable to the young roots. 

 Many of the Alocasias may be treated in the same way with 

 equally good results, especially those of the type of A. Veitchii, 

 A. Lowii, A. Sanderiana and A. intermedia. A coarse, spongy 

 compost is best suited to Alocasias, with abundant drainage. 

 The majority of these plants are benefited by being shaken 



Sphasrogyne and Cyanophyllum especially need plenty of pot- 

 room to secure perfect development. 



Ixoras are among the best of stove flowering plants when 

 properly treated, but, unfortunately, they form a favorite feed- 

 ing ground for mealy-bug and scale insects. A camel's-hair 

 brush dipped in acetic ether is very effective in removing these 

 pests from the tender foliage. The direct rays of the sun are 

 too powerful at this season for tender foliage-plants, and they 

 must be properly shaded. „, rT „ , ,. 



Holmesburg, Pa. IV. N. raplM. 



The Earliest Irises. 

 \ \ 7E are seldom favored during March in this latitude with 

 V » such genial conditions as have prevailed in the present 

 month. Moderate temperature and absence of high winds 

 and storms are proving ideal conditions for the flower-garden. 

 The somewhat early bloom of the Cloth of Gold and hybrid 



