Jaxvaey 6. 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



15 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



♦ 



THE ORCHID HOUSES. 



COOL HOrsE.— To tsucwssfully cultivate 

 the majority of orchidaceous plants we must 

 have various houses heated to different tem- 

 peratures and 80 contitructed that the re- 

 (juireinents of eacli tsection, eitlier warm or 

 cool, may be readily given. The cool de- 

 partment is one having sufficient heating 

 apparatus to maintain a temperature of not 

 leBS than 45 deg. during severe weather. Dur- 

 ing the summer montlis a nioi.st atmosphere 

 should be readily obtained. The liouse must 

 l)e shaded by some means. A hot, dry 

 atmosphere in this house is detrimental 

 at any season of the year. At this 

 season the temperature should be main- 

 tained, as nearly as possible, at the 

 figures given, and the aim should be to keep 

 a free, buoyant atmosphere by giving air on 

 all occasions whenever the outside conditions 

 permit. The amount of atmotipheric mois- 

 ture must be regulated by the amount of 

 evaporation going on ; on dull, wet days much 

 le^s damping will suffice tlian on a clear, 

 bright day. Cool orchids, although tliey re- 

 quire shade in the summer months, must at 

 this season have all the light possible, and 

 should be grown near the roof glass. A 

 plant well exposed to the light will become 

 robust and strong. Many inmates of this 

 department will now be showing their flower 

 epikee, notably the odontoglossums. both 

 species and hybrids, and Masdevallia tovaren- 

 81S. Tliey should all receive the same cool 

 airy treatment, receiving sufRcicnt water to 

 keep them plump. No attempt at foiling 

 them into bloom should be made, biit they 

 sliould l3e allowed to come slowly and surely 

 i]ito flower, when their spikes will l>e stronger 

 and the blooms much finer than they would 

 have l>een if hurried in any way. 



PESTS. — It is at this season that slugs 

 iiud yellow thrips often make their appear- 



ance. The former ^oon diis^^over the young, 

 tender spikes- and will devour them and ruin 

 them. A careful look out for slugs must \>e 

 carried out continually. In the case of yel- 

 low thrips the usual I'^medies of fumigation 

 and sponging must )je resorted to. and no 

 L^laxation must be allowed until the ]>est is 

 eradicated. Thoroughness in all things is 

 the sequel to all success in tlie cultivation of 

 orchids. No cool orchid should be allowed to 

 suft'er either from an insufficiency of sui)p]y 

 or an excess of moisture, one is as injurious 

 as the other. When watering any i^Iant ste 

 that it is pro|>erly soaked. 



INTERMEDIATE, 

 MEXICAN HOUSES.— Thesi^ are i)ractically 

 all one, and the same thing, and at this rea- 

 son the wcuijants re(juire the same manage- 

 ment. During the summer it is a different 



CATTLEYA, AND 



matter, and it is then very useful if a I'om- 

 part.ment can \ye set aside for Mexican or- 

 chids, as they revel in the bright sunlight 

 that would he most injurious to many of the 

 cattleyas. The cattleya house must be so 

 heated that the figures given Ix^low can 

 readily be reached without unduly forcinij 

 the fires, as over-heated pipes are most harm- 

 ful. 



TEMPERATURE. — The temperature in 

 the different houses should be maintained 

 at this season, as nearly as possible at the 

 following figures: Cool house, day, 55 deg.; 

 night, 5() deg. Intermediate or cattleya 

 house, day, 6() deg. ; night, 57 deg. 

 East Indian house, day, 65 to 70 deg. ; night, 

 65 djig. General treatment at this season 

 consists of paying close attention to the tem- 

 l>erature and atmoespheric conditions gene- 



rally, and avoiding fluctuations as much as 

 possible.— J. T. Barker, West Hill Gardens. 



STOVE PLANTS. 



CLEANLINESS.— In a well-ordered gar- 

 den containing plant stoves there should be 

 but few periods during the year when there 

 is a scarcity of material, either of flowerng 

 or foliage plants, ,t'or making a display; in- 



deed, it is in such structures that one looks 

 for a bright display at the dull season. At 

 the same time an early opportunity should be 



id clean the 



taken to thoroughly examine a 

 houses and theiV occupants before a press 

 of other work in the departments l)egins. 

 In no part of the garden is cleanliness of 

 greater im}Kntance than in the stove where 

 tlie constant humidity and warmth necessary 

 to the occupants has a tendency to encourage 

 insect life and filth. If pt>ssible, remove the 

 whole of the i)ot jilants into an adjacent 

 house while the woodwork and glass is being 

 well scrubbed with hot soany water; follow 

 the scrubbing with a gooa syringing with 

 tepid water to wliich is added a wine-glass 

 of paraffin to each gallon : tliis must be kept 

 well stirred during a])])lication . Any climlK^rs 

 there may 1k» in the liouse should be re- 

 moved fnmi the rafters or ])illars, and 

 ])runed where necessary, then cleansed and 

 tied into position. Palms and other foliage 

 ])lants should Ik* s])onged before again re- 

 arranging them. 



TEMPERATURE. — When cleaning is 

 finished keep the tem])erature as low as is 



consistent with safety to the occupants at this 

 season. Avoid exciting the plants into 

 growth for a few weeks ; when the days begin 

 to lengthen will be time enough for this. A 

 maximum of 70 deg. should not be exceeded, 

 and the tem]ierature may fall as low as 58 

 deg. on cold nights. 



LOOKIN(i AHEAD. — Note should be 

 made of the i)lants that will b:^ most in r<s 

 (|uest in the coming ^eason , and i)reparations 

 mad<^ accordingly for propagating a sufficient 

 number of each. Plantts that have ])assed 

 out of flower, such as poinsettias, l*lumbago 

 rosea, and other winter-flowering stove 

 plants should have the water supply gradu- 

 ally lessened in order that they may rest 

 before being ix?started into growth for the 

 production of cuttings. Avoid keeping rest- 

 ing plants of this character in too low a tem- 

 perature; heavy losses often occur through 



An 



Unfailing Guide, Philosopher, 



and 



Friend 



ts 



By T. W. SANDERS, F.L.S., Editor of ''Amateur Gardening. 



•t 



A Complete Guide to Planting and Management of the Flower Garden and 

 the Cultivation of Flowers, Plants, Trees, Ac, adapted for Outdoor Culture. 



Fashioning the Garden. 

 Beds and Borders. 

 Walks and Paths. 

 Lawns and Tennis Courts. 

 Rockeries and Ferneries. 

 Arbours, Summerhouses, 

 Arches, and Pergolas. 



THE CONTENTS INCLUDE 



Edgings. 



Walls and Fences, 

 Garden Practice. 

 Prooagation. 

 Colour Arrangement. 



Bedding. 



Annuals and Biennials. 



Bulbs. 



Hardy and Tender Border 



Plants and Flowers. 

 Climbing Plants. 

 Trees and Shrubs. 

 Pests and Diseases. 



480 PAGES. ILLUSTRATED BY 64 PLATES OF BEAUTIFUL GARDEN SCENES. PLANTS AND FLOWERS. AND 



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