204 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE, 



March 9, 1912, 



PLEUEOTHALLIS EOEZLI is another or- 

 chid which will thrive under similar condi- 

 tions, and, having just passed out of bloom, 

 may be repotted, should this be necessary, m 

 a compoc^t suitable for masdevallias. This is 

 largest and the most striking species of the 



genus. 



EPIDENDRUM (NANODES) MEDUSA is 



another quaint and singular orchid which 

 will succeed under the above conditions, sua- 

 pended from the roof, where it receives a free 

 circulation of air at all times. This and the 

 nleurothallis have no pseudo bulbs to 

 -support them, so should at no time be allowed 

 to suffer for lack of water. 



ODONTOGLOSSUM GRANDE, O. Insleayi, 

 and O. Schlieperianum will succeed in a 

 similar position, but these are now at rest, 

 and should not be repotted until the new 

 growths are forward and about to produce 

 new roots. Small yellow thrips often infest 

 this group, therefore the plants should be 

 periodicallv sprayed with a weak solution of 

 insecticide!^ and vaporised from time to time 

 as a preventive measure. — J. T, Barker, llie 

 West Hill Gardens. 



CONSERVATORY AND GREEN- 

 HOUSE. 



CARNATIONS.— llie Malmaison carna- 

 tions are now growing freely. Plants that 

 were potted into 32s in the autumn, and 

 have now become well rooted, will need more 

 moisture at the roots. It will be noticed the 

 plants are producing shoots freely from the 

 axils of the leavers simultaneously with the 

 centre stem or flower spike ; Malmaisons 

 should not be pinched with a view to produce 

 bushy plants, as with tree varieties, or it 

 will be jrt the expense of flowers. Each 

 plant should T:>e supported by a neat stake, 

 and a.s the flower spike advances it should 

 be neatly tied and disbudded to a single 

 crown bud. Fowl manure, and sheep or deer 

 droppings, in liquid form, are excellent 

 stimulants. There are also many artificial 

 manures for the purpose. All stimulants 

 must l>e given sparingly at first, gradually 

 increasing their strength as the flower spikes 

 develop, v^tock plants potted last year with 

 a view to making specimens are now also 

 pushing tlieir flower spikes. These should 

 he staked and disbudded. Malmaisons: re- 

 sent coddling; they like a light, span-rpofed 

 house, with a temperature of about 50 de- 

 •greeK at night, up to 60 by day, with a cur- 

 rent (tf itir always passing among the plants. 

 The bottom ventilators should never be 

 closed night or day (except in extremely cold 

 weather). Tliis will encourage a sturdy 

 o-rowth^ the leaves will curl, and a heavy 

 bloom appear on them. Greenfly is the 

 worst enemy, but vaporising oecasionally will 

 keep the plants clean, 



BORDER CARNATIONS.— Where border 

 carnations will not do satisfactorily^ it is a- 

 good plan to grow the glorious Cecilia and 

 the huge crimson King Arthur in pots and 

 treat them similarly to the Malmaisons. 

 Lady Hermione and Trogan also are splendid 

 grow^n in pots. In fact, any good border 

 varieties that were potted into GD's , and 

 wintered in a cold frame, if placed, three 

 plants of -a variety, in 9in. pots, will make 

 a fine show just before the Malmaisons come 

 in —Lewis Smith. Slintesham Park Gardens. 



IMANTOPIIVLLrMS OR OLIVIAS. — 

 These are among our most useful plants for 

 the conservatory during the spring months, 

 and they are splendid for house decoration, 

 nieir cultivation is very simple. Plants 

 that are in bloom now will require plenty 

 of water, and liquid manure is very 

 beneficial. After they have passed out of 

 bloom they should be liberally treated, and a 

 cool greenhouse^ or warm frame suits them 

 admirably. It is always best to confine the 

 roots somewhat, as this tends to free flower- 

 ing. Should any plants need a shift they 

 may be potted directly their flowers are over, 

 or cut. If the centre of the crowns are 

 bare the specimens are besd: divided. Cut the 

 rhizome through with a sharp knife, and 

 piili the ix>rtionft apart, but avoid damaging 

 the thick fleshy roots as much as possible. 



Repot at once, using suitable sized pots, 

 and a compost of three parts loam, one part 

 coarse sand and mortar rubble, adding dried 

 cow manure. From October onwards water 

 should be almost withheld, and the plants 

 receive a rest until the flower spikes appear 

 in. spring. 



HUMEA ELEGANS.— This graceful sub- 

 ject is not grown so freely as it deserves to 

 be For grouping it is unsurpassable. Gene- 

 raily speaking, they are biennials ; for, 

 although some plants will run to bloom the 

 first year, the second season they are seen at 

 their best when the plants have grown into 

 fine specimens, attaining a height of 5 to 6 

 feet. Their peculiar odour is appreciated 

 by many. Seeds should be sown at once, in 

 a pot or pan, in a compost of finely sifted 

 loam, leaf-soil, and 8and; place the pan in a 

 warm house, and cover with a piece of gla^s. 

 So soon as the voung plants are large enough 

 they should be potted into 6()'6, and grown 

 steadily. Place them in a warm frame 

 on an ash base, and repot as they require it. 

 Loam, leaf-soil, and coarse sand suits them 

 well. In February the large plants should 

 have their final shift.— Lewis Smith, Shotes- 

 ham Park Gardens. 



HARDY FRUITS. 



FIGS.— In the warmer parts of the coun- 

 try it will be fairly safe to give attention to 

 fig trees gFrown on walls, but in colder and 

 more exposed districts it will be advisable 

 to defer the work t-o the latter end of the 

 month. When pruning the trees it must be 

 borne in mind that the fruit is formed on 

 the tips of the jiast year's growth, and it i& 

 therefore essential to preserve and lay in 

 those growths which show the best signs of 

 giving a crop (the embryo fruits can easily 

 be noted). Frequently fruits swell away in 

 late summer and remain on the tree until 

 the spring, but such fruits are of no value, 

 and, should be rubbed off. Figs resent hard 

 pruning, and with trees which have received 

 due attention in the w^ay of summer pinching 

 and the removal of superfluous growths, it 

 will only be necessary to thin out weedy 

 or other *^ faulty grow^ths and lay in the most 

 promising shoots; overcrowding should be 

 avoided; allow a space of 9in. at least be- 

 tween the bearing wood. As it is desirable 

 to cover the wall space with fruiting growths, 

 young shoots from the base of the tree should 

 he laid in to take the place of older growths ; 

 where there is a sufficiency of young growths 

 it is the best plan to cut out some of the 

 older wood, as it is on the young and vigorous 

 growths the finest fruits are produced. Out- 

 door fig trees are seldom troubled with in- 

 sect pests. White scale sometime^' is found, 

 and if allowed to spread and multiply will 

 seriously affect the trees and fruit. As a 

 remedy^ for this pest, apply forcibly with a 

 syringe or spraying engine, hot water at a 

 temperature of 145 degrees ; if the- scales are 

 numerous a second application may be neces- 

 sary. This should be done before growth 

 commences, or the young tips may be in- 

 jured. Two or three applications of a strong 

 solution of soapy water are usually effectual, 

 and there are several insecticides on the 

 market which may be used if desired. 



PLANTING FIG TEEES IN THE OPEN. 

 — When planting young fig trees means must 

 ln' taken to restrict the roots, for if allowed 

 iui unlimited root they will make far too 

 much growth, and fail to fruit (satisfactorily. 

 As to soil, the fig is not ia^stidious, but prefers 

 an open, well-drained rooting medium. Old 

 moi'tar or plaster rubble and wood ashes 

 should be incorporated with the soil. Firm 

 planting will ensure short-jointed and fruit- 

 ful growths. Old trees, if growing too vigor- 

 ously, and failing to crop, should be root- 

 pruned and kept within bounds. Bush trees 

 require but very little attention, merely cut- 

 ting out a branch here and there where 

 there is an excess of growth. 



BIG BUD IN BLACK CURRANTS.— Last 

 year I had a number of black currant bushes 

 so badly infested with big bud that they 

 were condemned to be- burnt; but, noting 

 Mr. Pearson's recipe for this pest in the 



Gardeners' Magazine;, I was desirous of test- 

 ing its efficacy, and sprayed the bushes with 

 quassia extract live times — twice in March, 

 twice in April, and once during May, at in- 

 tervals of a fortnight. The results were 

 gratifying; there was a good crop of cur- 

 rants, the fruits clean and bright, and, 

 although the bushes are not free from big 

 bud, the attack is slight in comparison to 

 that of last year. I hope by further spray- 

 ing to practically clear out the pest. I 

 would certainly advise those who are 

 troubled with big bud to give it a trial. — AV. 

 Messenger, AVoolverstone Park Gardens, 

 Ipswich. 



THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



MAINCROP ONIONS.— As soou 



as the 



ground is in a workable condition, this crop 

 should be sown without delay. ITie onions 

 prefer a long season of growth, and when 

 the seedlings are up early they withstand 

 the attacks of the dreaded onion fly much 

 better, being larger and therefore stronger. 

 If the site is rather wet, a good dressing of 

 burnt garden refuse direct from the heap 

 will help the surface wonderfully, preventing 

 it from kneading. Little time will be in- 

 quired on the plot if it was previously pre- 

 pared, and the surface left rough; simply 

 break' it down with a fork, level, make firm, 

 and rake the coarse stones off; square the 

 bed, and then dnaw drills one foot apart 

 and an inch in depth. After covering the 

 seeds, rake down parallel with the lines. 

 A wooden rake is preferable, as it leaves the 

 soil rough, and therefore prevents a caked 

 surface, which would hinder and cripple 

 the growth of the seedlings. Main Crop, Im- 

 proved Heading, and Long Keeping are goc-d 

 varieties, and vrill give -a continuous supply. 

 After-treatment will consist of regular hoe- 

 ings and an occasional dusting of soot. 



VEGETABLE MARROWS. — These are 

 much appreciated when obtained early. The 

 seeds must be sown in a temperature of 

 about 60 degrees, placing each seed in a 

 small 60-sized pot. Shift the plants into 

 Larger pots as required, eventually plantmg 

 them out on .a mild and gentle hotbed m a 

 light compoet, consisting of equal parts of 

 loam and spent mushroom-bed manure, with 

 a little leaf -soil and mortar rubble add^d. 

 Other plants may be placed in boxes and 

 large pots, training them up trellises m an 

 intermediate house should room be availabk. 

 Pen-y-byd and Table Dainty are excellent for 

 early crops. 



CELERY.— By the middle of the preseiit 

 month the main batch should be sown m 

 boxes in a very gentle heat; us^ soil ot a 

 light, sandy nature, and just cover the seeds. 

 If preferred, and a large batch has to tie 

 raised the seeds could be sow^n on a nuW 

 hotbed in frames, making the soil level an<i 

 firm. Keep the frame lights closed till ger- 

 mination takes place. Sulham Prize and 

 Standard Bearer are first-rate mam-crop 

 varieties, the last-named standing better ana 

 later than anv variety. Celery sown eariy 

 must be pricked off into boxes filled witn ^ 

 light, sandy compost, and placed m gciin^ 

 heat. 



during the 



autumn and wintered in rough frames slioul 

 now be planted on sheltered borders in 

 rich soil, as no crop responds more reaai 

 or pays better when given good "t/"^^™?. 

 Should good endive not be plentiful, ^ne 

 ward plants of " lettuce should be tran 

 planted into warm frames, and give ev^ . 

 inducement f,> liastcu o-ivjwth by If 

 ings on fine dnvs. and closing 

 early to husband the sun heat. 

 Stanstead Park to be oneof thebest variex - 



and verv hardv, large, and of f^^^^^^j, 

 flavour. ^ C(mtinue to prick off spring-so^^ 

 seedlings in boxes and frames. f Jce*. 

 ing should now be made outside for m» . 

 sion, Commodore Nutt being a gooa 

 quick variety for this purpose. 



POTATOES, — Plant another b^^^^^^j^., 

 sprouted tubers in a skeleton irame ^^^^^^^^ 

 cession, taking great care to protec ^^^^^^ 

 whenever frosts appear. — G. Elt^wood, 

 more Park Gardens. 



LETTUCE 



Tliose sown 



