324 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE, 



April 20, 1912. 



Powelli have commeuc'ed to grow, aud should 

 have pknty of water. Keep all dead flower 

 spikes and leaves removed, and tidy up and 

 rearrange the flowering plants frequently.— 

 Lewis Smith, Shotesham Park Gardens. 



HARDY FRUITS- 



APEICOTS.— The young fruiter are rapidly 

 swelling, and a preliminary thinning is 

 advisable where a good set has occurred. 

 As there is a considerable difference in the 

 size of the fruits of various varieties, 

 some special knowledge is necessary to 

 carry out the operation of thinning with 

 satisfactory results. With such a small- 

 fruited variety as Breda, the fruits may be 

 left more closely together than would be 

 advisable for the larger fruiting Large 

 Early Montgamet, Hemskirk, and Groyne 

 Peche. Tliiuning should l>e carried out by 

 degrees, first removing those fruits which 

 are found gi'owing between the wall and the 

 branches, and where they have set in pairs 

 take awav the >maller fruit. A weekly 

 examination will fual^ie the operator to note 

 tiio&e fruits likelv to take the lead, and a 

 further reduction of the smaller fruits can 

 be made. Rather more fruits should be left 

 than will be required for a full crop^ until 

 stoning is finished, when the final thinning 

 should take place. The usual distance apart 

 allowed for the lai-ger fruits is eight inches, 

 small fruits (as Breda) five inches apart 

 Tiie eti-ength and vigour of the tree should 

 be considered ; vigorous trees may bo 

 <M<ip|HMl more lieavilv than those which are 

 not so robust, but it is far better to have a 

 medium crop of fine fruits than a heavy 

 crop of small, tastelet^s fruits. 



DISBUDDING.— Th.& extension branches 



I those of older tree^ laid 

 in to fill gaps should have all growths at tlie 

 back removed, also all foreright shoots not 

 required to form spurs, laying in only suffi- 

 cient of the young growths required to fill 

 the allotted spaces. Frequently it will be 

 found that old-established spurs have more 

 growths than are necessary, and these, if 

 allowed to grow, crowd each other, and con- 

 sequently air and sunlight are excluded, pre- 

 venting '^proi>er development of fruit buds 

 for the ensuing season. It is, therefore, 

 advisable to thin out the extra growths, so 

 that each one left will have space to de- 

 velop its lea\eis and permit air and light to 

 have access for the ripening of the young 

 wood. Stop all shoots left for spurs at the 

 third or fourth leaf, and any subsequent 

 P-rowth to one leaf. The thinning of the 

 fruits and disbudding may be done at one 

 and the same time. In laying in yo^^g 

 branches avoid overcrowding. Sufficient 

 space must be allowed for the future de- 

 velopment of fruit-bearing spurs. Fortu- 

 nately, the apricot is not troubled with 

 many inse-.t pests; at times, however, the 

 apricot moth attacks the young foliage, and 

 this becomes apparent by the leaves curling 

 up; by pressing the curled-up leaves between 

 the finger and thumb, the caterpillar irs 

 destroved. All exposed portions of main 

 branches and the stem should be covered 

 with sacking^ as a protection from sun-heat. 



GEIFTED TREES.— As we are experienc- 

 ing aV^^riod of drying winds, take care that 

 the clav does not become dry, crack and fall 

 off- a "little moss tied over- the clay and 

 moistened occasionally will prevent damage. 



PL\NTING-OUT FORCED STRAW- 

 BERRY PLANl^.— By planting these at the 

 earliest suitable opportunity it is possible 

 to obtain a fair crop of fruits quite late in 



THE ORCHID HOUSES. 



ONCIDIUMS.— The oncidiums constitute 

 tme of the largest families of orchids, and 

 the genus is also an important one from a 

 garden point of view; for there are no other 

 inexpensive orchids that surpass them in 

 beauty, Oncidiums are represented among 

 warm, intermediate, and cool orchids, but by 

 far the largest portion can be cultivated in 

 a cool intermediate house without any great 

 difficulty, though some require great care to 

 maintain them in a robust condition, as the 

 large, branching, many-flowered inflores- 

 cences often enfeeble the plant^s to such ah 

 extent that it seems almost useless to try to 

 revive them. With the commoner kinds this 

 is not of much consequence, as plants are 

 imiported annually in such quantities that 

 fresh specimens can be purchased at a, very 

 small cost. In the case of special sorts it is 

 not advisable to overtax them, therefore the 

 flower-spikes should be removed before they 

 develop each alternate year. The spring and 

 early summer-flowering oncidiums, such as 

 O. Marsh allianum, O. concolor, O.cucutatum, 

 and 0. microchilum, are developing their 

 flower-spikes in the cool intermediate house. 

 All these require a moderate supply of mois- 

 ture at the roots. O. varicosum and other 

 late summer and autumn-flowering species, 

 such as 0. Forbesi, O. crispum, O. dasytyle, 

 O. tigrinum, O. Gardiieri, and O. Mantini, 

 are now starting into growth after their 

 long rest since flowering last season. New 

 roots soon push forth from the base of the 

 young growths, and this is the best possible 

 time to afford new rooting matei-ial to any 

 that may require it. For dwarf-habited and 

 compact growing oncidiums, shallow pans are 

 the most suitable receptables, and these 

 should 'be provided with a fair amount of 

 drainage. Use the same kind of compost as 

 for odontoglossums, but add a more liberal 

 supply of half-decayed oak leaves. Potting 

 should be moderately firm. Tliese oncidiums 

 ■are be>st grown close up to the roof glass in 

 a cool intermediate house where they can 

 receive plenty of fresh air. During the early 

 stages of growth water must be applied with 

 care, as an excess would cause the new 

 growths to damp oft', but when the young 

 oots have established themselves in the new 



tilth 

 and 



the^ason. Plants of Royal Sovereign 

 fully hardened otf and attended to in the 

 way of watering and syringing wi 1 usually 

 throw up flower spikes during the late sum- 

 mer months, .lul by affording a slight pro- 

 tection it is possible to have ripe fruits dur- 

 incr October and even into November. Later 

 batches of forced plants are most siutable to 

 plant out for next season's supply. 

 the hardening-off prooess, the plants should 

 have careful attention for too often, after 

 fruiting is over, they are removed to some 



out-of-tlio-wav corner and ne«:]erted.— VV . 

 Messenger, WofH-rstonc Park (.ardens. 



compost they must have an abundant supply 

 both at the roots and in the atmosphere. 

 Spraying and syringing should be practised 

 on fine days, as a dry atmosphere favours the 

 spread of thrips and red spider, both serious 

 pests. 



iMILTONIA VEXILLARIA is now pushing 

 up it-s spikes, and the young pseudo-bulbs 

 should be making roots from their base. They 

 ust not be allowed to suffer for want of 

 water at the roots. The present is a favourable 

 time to remove the plants from the quarters 

 they have occupied all the winter, into 

 a cool intermediate house, or the warm end 

 of the cool house, where the flowers will de- 

 velop with much more substance and a finer 

 colour than they would do in a higher tem- 

 perature. Removing them also gives one the 

 opportunity of thoroughly cleansing them, 

 and at the same time liberating any leaves 

 that may adhere together, as they often do 

 at this season. Woodlice are very fond of the 

 voung roots, and if not diligently sought 

 after and killed, they will destroy every 

 root immediately it becomes visible. These 

 pests may be trapped by laying some pieces 

 of vegetable, such as potato, turnip, or 

 carrot, with the centre scooped out, on the 

 surface of the compost. M. vexillaria de- 

 lights in an even temperature the whole year 

 round, and, when in full growth, an abun- 

 dant suipply of moisture, both at the roots 

 and in the atmosphere. A^ellow thrip is very 

 persistent in attacking this orchid, especially 

 in a high temperature, and every means must 

 be taken to keep it in (subjection.— J, T. 

 Baeker, The West Hill Gardens. 



THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



ONIONS.— Those that were raised early 

 in the vear should now be sufficiently 

 hardened^ to plant in the beds which have 

 been prepaa'ed for their reception. The sur- 

 face should bo pricked over to create a fine 



over this scatter a dressing of soot 

 burnt garden refuse, then tread the 

 plot over level, and plant the onions in 

 lines eighteen inches apart, and fifte<»ii 

 inches from plant to plant. Lift the onions 

 carefully from the boxes, and plant firmly. 

 If dry weather prevails water the plants 

 at the time of planting, and give regular 

 sprinklings of water each afternoon should 

 hot weather continue. Regular hoeings and 

 occasional" dustings of soot will' be found 

 very beneficial. 



LEEKS. — Seedlings that are nicely estab. 

 lished in boxes, and pots, must now be 

 planted in well prepared trenches, providing 

 the plants are well hardened off. If there 

 is any doubt about this, delay the opera- 

 tion for ten days. Prepare trenches as for 

 celery, eighteen inches in depth; add a good 

 layer of decayed farmyard manure, and 

 place thereon old marrow bed soil or old 

 light potting soil, Avitli some burnt garden 

 refuse, especially if the soil is retentive. 

 Plant very carefully in single lines at one 

 foot apart, water in, and spray during 

 favourabLe weather. Good varieties are 

 Prizetaker, Lyon, and International. 



PEAS. — The various sowings made in 

 boxes will now need transplanting to their 

 permanent lines. Prepare drills one foot 

 in width, finishing the surface two inches 

 below the surrounding level, to allow for 

 watering during dry weather, and afi'ord 

 shelter from cold, cutting winds. Yew or 

 spruce boughs are also very helptu] to ward 

 off frosts and cold winds if placed on the 

 north and east sides. Plant in double line* 

 as for broad beans, and water in if dry. To 

 maintain a constant supply, sow quantities 

 according to the demands at intervals of 

 ten days, in prepared drills. Duke of Albany 

 Criterion, Quite Content, Senator, and 

 Superlative are excellent varieties for mam- 

 crop. 



SALSAFY AND SCOEZONEEA. — These 

 two veg-etables are becoming more popular 

 each vear, and are much sought after dur- 

 ing the early spring months. Well-prepared 

 light soil suits their needs l3est. If sown 

 now very few will run to flower as earlier 

 sowings are apt to do. Sow the seeds in 

 drills eighteen inches apart, and scatter a 

 quantitv of old potting soil over the s^eds 

 before filling in the drill. 



CAULIFLOWEES.- 

 of later sown plants 

 water in, and ward 

 sifted cinder ashes. 



Plant further batches 

 on well-tilled ground, 

 off slugs with tinely- 

 Make another sowing 



toil tt:lA i^iii^t j_ j-x^vj- • 1 



of the fine autumn varieties, and pncK o 

 immediately they are large enough to hanaie. 



CAEDOONS.— Sow seeds singly m smaU 

 pots in gentle heat, and transfer the p ants 

 to trenches prepared as for celery durmg 

 May, or sow the seeds in drilk at the end o 

 April, and thin out the seedlings to eighteen 

 inche^i apart when large enougli. 



VEGETABLE MAEEOWS. - ^^^.^J'^, 

 batch of the favourite varieties, P^^tt ng ou 



seed in each large 60-sized P<>t ; P^ant 

 gentle heat, duly harden off, and transp^J^ 

 when all danger of frost is past, '^"ena 

 those now growing in frames ff^^ -^^^ 

 well supplied with water, and ply t^f/^'ui^k 



regularly about them to Pi-o^'^^\'„„''iead- 

 growth. Fertilise the flowers and stop lea" 



ing growths. . . j|„, 



CUCUMBERS.— Sow a good strain o ^^^^ 

 old Telegraph for placing in trauie 

 pits as room becomes arailabje . 



Uval of bedding plants, ^.^^^f .^."^^if and 

 various herbs, turnip, spinach, l< tTiu 

 few French beans.— Geo. Llnnood, 



a 



more Park Gardens 



m neapolitanum 



. in easily- 



grown DuiD tnat inigiiu v.^,... ^'^^'^•fS than 

 its merits more generally recogmsed 

 they are is this member of the o^on l 

 Bulbs of it are cheap, and s^^.^, , for® 

 gether in a pot five inches m '^'^''';\^,,rael1 

 effective little masses, which ait <• 



o -. o 1. ^^^r^rnflOll. 



useuu lor gre* 

 very pretty g 

 — W. T, 



suspended 



