344 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



April 27, 1912. 



bvilbs begin to form they miist be shaded 

 during the hottest and brightest part of 

 the day^ Keep the compost rather dry 

 for several weeks after repotting, until 

 the new roots are seen to be pushing 

 through the compost. When well estab- 

 lished a more abundant supply of water 

 at the roots is necessary. Tlie under- 

 sides of the leaves may be syringed lightly 

 with tepid rain-water, several times a day 

 in warm and bright weather. During the 

 crowing season a moist, humid atmosphere 

 must be maintained at all times, as d^ndro- 

 biums resent a dry. parched atraosphere, 

 which will undoubtedly bring m its train 

 an attack of thrip and other insect pests. 



PEOP\GATION.— It is desirable each 

 vear to propagate a few plants, especially 

 of the rare varieties, to replace plants that 

 have become exhausted through over-flower- 

 ine- or any other cause. This i« done Jiy 

 cutting off some of the old pseudo-bulbs that 

 have failed to bloom, those that have 

 flowered being useless. These should be laid 

 u,>on some damp sphagnum moss in a hot 

 moist propagating frame, or upon the surface 



of living sphagnum moss, in the pots of prides 

 and Vandas growing in the East Indian house. 

 Young plants may also be obtained by cut- 

 ting the bulbs into short lengths, taking 

 care to have a sound eye or bud to eacli 

 piece, and placing these firmly m ^m^ll pots 

 filled' with' sphagnum moss being careful 

 that the eye or bud iwts just at the surtace 

 of the moss. Young growths will soon ap- 

 pear and when they produce roots they 

 iwd ^^ potted up in small T>ots like the 

 other plants. The eyes, or buds should if 

 possible, be put into a propaga^tmg frame 

 produce growths, being afterwards gra- 

 dually hardened off, until they are ahle to 

 withstand the ordinary conditions of the 



house. Young secdhng <l7<i-XBKE™ 't^^ 

 repotted at tins season.— J. 1. Bakker, ine 



West Hill Gardens. 



and 



STOVE PLANTS. 



■This is a 



DIPLADENIA BOLIVIENSIS 

 pretty and useful species bearing a profu- 

 sion of white flowers with a rich yellow 



throat. Unlike the majority of the dipla- 

 denias, this is not so subject to that dreaded 

 pest mealy bug. and a^ the leaves have a 

 smooth surface, they can be readily cleaned 

 The flowers are exceedingly useful tor 

 wreaths and bouquets when wired. The best 

 position for the plant is upon wires near the 

 roof -glass of the stove, or it may be grown 

 as a specimen upon a balloon-shaped trellis. 

 Propagation is readily effected by cuttmgd 

 of the short, half-ripened, spur-like shoots 

 Insert these in small pots filled with peat and 

 sand, and plunge in a hotbed. \\ hen nicely 

 rooted pot singly, and again plunge until 

 well established, when a stage or shelf near 

 the light will answer. Shift into larger pots 

 as thought necessary, using peat in a lumpy 

 condition, and plenty of sharp sand, and small 

 pieces of charcoal. Ample drainage is essen- 

 tial . 



CELOSIAS.— Golden rules to observe m 

 the cultivation of these useful plants are, 

 plenty of heat, accompanied with i^"™idity 

 during the season of active growth: and 

 free, unchecked growth from the time the 

 seedlings are pricked off until flowering 

 time. Seeds should be procured from a re- 

 liable source, as this is one of those plants 

 hardlv worth growing unless the strain be 

 of the best. When one has a good strain it 

 is good policy to perpetuate it by saving 

 seed^ annually. Assuming that seeds have 

 already been sown for an early batch ot 

 plants, the seedlings should be given a- shift 

 into small pots as soon as large enough, and 

 encouraged to make quick growth. ine 

 present time is opportune for making the 

 principal sowing, and the resulting plants 

 if well grown, will produce their plumes at 

 a time when most useful. This batch will 

 have a better chance than the earlier oue. 

 owing to the increasing hours of davligtit 

 and more congenial conditions generally. A 

 good compost consists of al)Out three parts 

 fibrous loam to one each of leaf-soil and 



dried cow mi 



....^ a s]jr inkling of wood-ash or soot. 

 Plentv of humidity in the atmosphere of the 

 house" or pit in which the plants are grown is 

 absolutely essential, for the double purpose 

 of ensuring luxuriant growth, and to keep 

 down red spider and thrips. 



CYPERUS NATALENSIS.— When kept in 

 quite small pots we find this graceful little 

 ijlant most useful for associating with both 

 ornamental foliaged plants, or flowering 

 plants in the houses, or for decorative pur- 

 poses in the dwelling, ^riiey are easily raised 

 from seed, and by sowing a pinch, say, once 

 a month, we ensure a succession of small 

 plants to replace others that have become 

 pot-bound, or otherwise damaged. S«w the 

 seeds in heat, and when about an inch high, 

 lift carefullv with a pointed stick in small 

 clumps of about 6 or 8 plants, and pot m 

 small i30's, in which size they remain. 

 By placing several seedlings m the centre 

 of each pot the growth made is fine and 

 grass-like, therefore more graceful than 

 when only two or three are used. 

 , TEMPERATURE.— More natural condi- 

 tions for the free growth of the various 

 plants now prevail, and the temperature ot 

 the various structures may accordingly be 

 increased, Cl<ise early in the afternoons, 

 and syringe heavily overhead and among the 

 pots in which the plants are growing. The 

 floors and walls also should be damped 

 at least once in the evening. Avoid using 

 more fire-heat than is absolutely necessary 

 to maintain the proper temperature through- 

 out the night.— H. T. Mabtin, Warren Wood 

 Gardens. 



FRUITS UNDER GLASS. 

 EARLY MELONS.— The fruits will have 

 attained a good size, and some means should 

 be adopted to support them, either by the 

 use of nets or boards. Care should be exer- 

 cised not to make use of any supports until 

 absolutely necessary, or the fruits will often 

 assume a shape and form that is not charac- 

 teristic of the particular variety grown. 

 Continue to give manurial assistance fre- 

 quently, until the fruits are fully developed, 

 and show signs of ripening, when it must be 

 discontinued, using only clear tepid water 

 until the fruits are ripe. Attend to the stop- 

 ping of the laterals, and remove all leaves 

 that show s\gn^ of decay, using a sharp knife. 

 Keep a sharp look-out for canker m the main 

 stems, and, if discovered, the affected parts 

 should be well rubbed with dry lime; in 

 fact, we always use lime around the base of 

 the stems of our plants as a preventative, and 

 water is never allowed to come in contact 

 with the base at any time. Discontinue the 

 use of the syringe, and admit air freely 

 when possible by the top and side ventila- 

 tors, leaving them open a little at night 

 during the ripening period. All fruits should 

 be cut immediately they are ripe, and placed 

 in a warm fruit room for a day or two before 

 being used. 



SUCCESSIONAL PLANTS. 



^ 



pleted their stoning, so freely syringe the 

 trees to keep the foliage clean and healthy, 

 but it must be discontinued when the fruits 

 commence to ripen. Continue to water fre- 

 quently with chemical and farmyard liquid 

 manure, until the ripening stage is reached, 

 when clean tepid water will be sutficient. 

 Admit air by the top and side ventilators, 

 allowing a little to remain on at night. Stop 

 all second growths at one leaf, and endea- 

 vour to expose the fruits to sunlight. 



LATE PEACHES. — The trees in the later 

 houses are much on a par w^ith each other, 

 the exceptionally mild spring we have experi- 

 enced having induced the trees in the late 

 houses to flower at the same time as the 

 second early ones. Pay attention to the young 

 growths, thin the fruits judiciously, and 

 give the roots a copious supply of clean 

 tepid water. As the days lengthen and the 

 sun gains power, the syringe must be fre- 

 quently used to keep the foliage clean and 

 healthy. — Henry R. Farmer, Cardiff Castle 

 Gardens. 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



SUB-TROPICAL PLANTS IN THE GAE- 

 p'EN. ■These are very effective when ar- 

 ranged in a position ex'posed to full sun-shine, 

 but protected from the high winds. The 

 ground should be well trenched and man- 

 ured for their reception, as a deep and rich 

 rooting medium is essential to vigorous 

 growth. From now until the first week in 

 June which is the best time to plant them 

 out, ' the plants should be gradually 

 hardened off; and it is essential to have 

 vigorous specimens in 6-inch pots by plant- 

 ing time. Among the more effective plants 

 for this style of gardening the cannas are 

 especially suitable; they are now obtained 

 in varied and charming colours, and their 

 foliage is most effective. Ricinus in variety 

 are specially handsome foliage plants. Some 

 of the solanums. are very desirable, and S. 

 robustum, S. marginatum, and S. pyracan- 

 thum should be choeen. Melianthus mapris 

 an effective foliage plant, and can either be 

 raised from s-eed*^ annually, or the roots can 

 be kept from year to year. 



HARDY BAMBOOS.— Tlie present is the 

 best time to plant these elegant subjects, and 

 in gardens where the soil is of a heavy loamy 

 nature they succeed admirably when given 

 po.?itions sheltered from the cold wmds. I He 

 best to plant are Arundinaria nitida, a tail 

 graceful bamboo with small leaves ; A. an- 

 ceps, a very desirable kind; A. aristata a 

 distinct plant; A. spathiflora, tall, ^Mtn 

 dense plumose growths; and A ]aponica,ji 

 popular and vigorous grower. Bambusa las- 

 tuosa forhis a tall noble plant; B. palmata 

 is quite distinct, with broad leaves; and 

 quadrangularis is a striking bamboo wiUi 

 square stems. Among the phylloastachys i^- 

 aurea is a good one for massing m , 

 while P. castillonis, P. flexuosa. P. Quiiio^^ 

 P. violescens and P. vividi-glaucescen^ 

 are all handsome and worthy or 

 elusion. Arundinaria auricoma . 



-Carefully at- 

 tend to the pinching and tying of the shoots, 

 and fertilise the female flowers as they open 



until the required number are &et. Give is ^.^^^^.^Xof ro^^^ Bamboc^ 

 plenty of water, but exercise care in the use wards the back of the rock ^arae ^^.^^ 

 Sf stimulating manures at this period. Plants succeed best in a rich, mois ^^^^ 



that were raised from seeds a few weeks ago 

 should be potted on into 6-inch and 7-inch 

 pots, and these will be found very useful to 

 take the place of those in the early house, 

 after the crop is finished. 



OTCOND EARLY VINES.— Constant care 

 will be required in the final thinning of the 

 berries; this work should be allocated to a 

 capable workman, who thoroughly under^ 

 stands the requirements of the particular 

 varieties to be operated upon. Great assis- 

 tance is afforded for the proper development 

 of the berries if the shoulders of the bunches 



dwarf variegated form, - . 



is a lowly grower, suitaWe for plau^mg ^ 

 wards the back of the rock garden. Bamo 

 succeed best in a rich, moxst sod, wh^ 

 should be deeply cultivated before they 

 planted. At this season of ^^^e J^^r ^ 

 derive much benefit from a liberal t^P-^f 

 ing of manure, and any old or dead ste 

 should be cut out near the base 



GENEEAL WOEK.-Subjects lake pamp^_ 

 grass, rheums, and gaunneras can tye s ^ 

 fully transplanted now, ^nd wh^^'T- -^ion of 

 desired they can be increased ^y^y^^ ,„d 

 the roots. Place some fresh J f „fter 

 them, and give a thorough watenng ^ 

 planting. It is wise to have matcri. 



are carefully tied up to the wires by slender 

 nieces of matting ; this work requires a cer- 

 tain amount of skill and iudiciou.s care. 

 Give liquid and chemical stimulants tre- 



carrying a heavy 



quently to vines that . , „ 

 crop and during the stoning period several 

 applications of lime-water should be given. 

 PFArTTFS AND NECTARINES. — The 

 a/r, ";,Xof fr™the early house, have almost com- 



planting. it is wise w f,.ot.t 

 hand to provide protection i^^^J t^^^^ver 

 tender subjects. Frequently 

 the surface of the flower borders ana ^^^^ 

 The present is a good time t<> ^P?;; ^hen 

 killer to paths, but it is more effecti^e^ ^^^^ 

 put on during showery weather, i 

 that box edges and grass ^eiges 

 damaged by its use, . and S^^^fjf,^ " 

 utensils employed being used f or o 

 poses.— F. Gardner, Batsford FarK 



■ 



