520 



THE GARDENERS^ MAGAZINE. 



J L-LY 6, 1912. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



This 



STOVE PLANTS. 



THYESACANTHUS RUTILANS. — 



stove plant is worthy of a place in collec- 

 tions tor tlie beauty of its long racemes of 

 bright crimson flowers, whiek are borne in 

 winter and spring. Propagation i& readily 

 effected by cuttings taken from the old 

 plants when they have finished flowering in 

 spring. Assuming that sufficient numbers 

 were rooted at that time, they will now be 

 ready for their flowering pots. If single 

 plants are grown, 6in, or Tin. pots will 

 answer for the final shift, A compost of 

 two parts fibrous loam, one of leaf soil, and 

 one made up of dried cow manure, crushed 

 charcoal, and a sprinkling of sand and bone- 

 meal, will answer well. Pot firmly, and pinch 

 out the leading points to induce branching. 

 This thyrsacanthus does not branch out 

 freely, even when pinched, therefore I adopt 

 the plan of growing two or three in a pot. 

 If these do well they may be flowered in 32's 

 or 24'6. Grow on freely in a heated pit or 

 house for a few weeks, and when thoroughly 

 established, afford cooler treatment for the 

 remainder of the summer, to ensure well- 

 ripened wood, on which free flowering de- 

 pends. When in full growth, give plenty of 

 air, and shade only from the hottest sun. 



COLEUS THYRSOIDEUS. — Thi^ is 

 another useful winter-flowering plant, now 

 immensely popular. Its bright blue flowers 

 are borne in profusion on long, erect panicles. 

 The habit of growth is very similar 

 foregoing, and precisely the same treatment 

 will give good results. 



POINSETTIA PULCHERRIMA. — Note 

 should be made of the number of plants 

 of poinsettias that have already been 

 rooted; if there is any deficiency, insert more 

 euttings without delay. These late-struck 

 cuttings make useful material if well looked 

 after, and grown on freely, yet sturdily. A 

 heated pit, not too deep, is an excellent place 

 • to grow them in, as they can be kept near 

 the roof-glass, and lowered occasionally as 

 growth advances. A close atmosphere must 

 be maintained, accompanied by abundance 

 of moisture for a few days after each repot- 

 ting, taking care not to overwater at the 

 roots- One good application immediately 

 after potting will suffice for some days, pro- 

 vided frequent syringings are afforded daily. 

 When it is seen that they have become re- 

 established in the new compost inure gradu- 

 ally to full air and light, in order to 

 ensure robust, short-jointed growth. Plants 

 grown in strong heat, and given but little 

 ventilation, give poor results. — ^H. T. 

 >Iaetin, Warren Wood Gardens. 



THE ORCHID HOUSES. 



CYPRIPEDIUMS.— The members of this 

 ^r^nus, which require a warm treatment, are 

 not so extensively cultivated as the cooler- 

 . growing species ; nevertheless, there are 

 manv very beautiful and attractive plants 

 which produce their flowers at this season of 

 the year. C. Stonei, C. Rothschildianum C. 

 ■ Curtisi, C. ciliolare, C. barbatum, C. callo- 

 sum C. Lawrenceanum, with their varieties 

 .C. o. Sanders and C. L. Hyeanixm, and 

 various others, are amongst them. There are 

 several hybrids which also bloom during the 

 summer months. The ^^jo^ity of these 

 lants require stove heat, and a liberal treat- 

 lent generally, and are easy to cultivate. 

 C Lawrenceanum, ^vith its varieties, also 

 callosum and its varieties, with C. barbatum 

 and r. superbiens are best grown at the 

 warm end of the intermediate house As 

 they pass out of flower, they should be tho- 

 rouihly examined, and any that re- 

 quire i4potting must have attention, potting 

 them in the same manner, and using a com- 

 pear as advised early in the year for winter- 

 Kring cypripediums.. The more simple 

 we can make our practice, undoubtedly the 

 more easy is it to follow, and the greater 

 TixJcesl shall we achieve. The whole of these 

 plants are propagated easily, arid may be 

 ^. acrc,\-n nrovided care be 



taken in the operation. I do not advise 

 division into the scraps we often see, ae in 

 the first place they do not produce flowers in 

 the same proportion as fair-sized plants, 

 neither are the flowers of the same quality, 

 and as the plants are cultivated for their 

 flowers it should be the aim to produce them 

 in their best form. After repotting a water- 

 ing should be given to settle the compost 

 around them, and be set where they may be 

 shaded from strong sunshine, and be sprayed 

 overhead from time to time, especially on hot 

 days. Tliere must be no lack of moisture at 

 the root, or in the atmosphere, but the usual 

 caution must be ufed in watering until the 

 plants are i-e-established. Insect pests rarely 

 attack healthy plants of this genus. Should 

 any plant become a prey to any abnormal 

 attack of any iiLsect pest, we can rely upon 

 it that the conditions under which it 

 is growing is not according to its liking or 

 requirements. 



THE SELENIPEDIUM GROUP, such as 

 C. Schroderi, C. grande, C. Sedeni, and 

 others may be treated in the same manner 

 when they have finished flowering ; the whole 

 of this group thrives in the intermediate 

 house at all seasons. 



C. NIVEUM AND C. BELLATULUM, and 

 others of the same section, which many have 

 a difficultv in cultivating, may have atten- 

 t ion soon a f ter the flowers have faded . 

 They have thick, fleshy roots, differing m 

 character from either of the preceding, 

 and they require a different compost and 

 treatment. When repotting this eection, 

 great care must be taken to preserve the 

 roots and leaves from injury. The leaves, 

 Uc.^na' nf a tliink succuleut uature, can with- 



suaiivx uLrv/Lc f>st. These 



cypripediums should be grown well up to the 

 light at all times, in a stove temperature, 

 where they can be protected from strong 

 sunshine, and they must not be sprayed or 

 syringed overhead. They will thrive m a 

 compost of equal portions of peat, osmunda, 

 and ]oam fibre, and sphagnum moss, from 

 which all the fine particles have been taken. 

 A few pieces of broken limestone may_ be 

 added, and will be beneficial, especially 

 where' the water is deficient in lime. The 

 plants may be potted much in the manner as 

 an ordinary plant, leaving sufficient spaee 

 •between the surface of the compost, and the 



of the pot for sufficient water to 



rim 



thoroughly 



Tlie West Hill Gardens. 



FRUITS UNDER CLASS. 



LAYERING STRAWBERRIES.— Push on 

 with this work, and finish without delay. No 

 doubt where plants have to be grown for 

 very early forcing this work has been ac- 

 complished; but, if necessary, layering can 

 still be done, and good strong plants will 

 result by the autumn. Great care must be 

 exercised to select good strong runners that 

 are just beginning to emit roots, and confine 

 them to one plant on each runner; these 

 should be securely pegged down, into three- 

 inch pots, which have been previously filled 

 with a good rich loam made moderately firm, 

 the pots should be plunged nearly up to their 

 rims in the soil between the rows, and this 

 will materially assist the new compost to re- 

 main in a moist condition without the aid of 

 frequent waterings. Damp over the plants 

 occasionally during bright, sunny weather, 

 in a few weeks' time they will have become 

 well established in the small pots, when they 

 should be detached from the old plants, and 

 placed in ashes on a border facing west until 

 thev can be placed in their fruiting pots. 



YOUNG POT VINES.— The young canes 

 should be at least from ten to twelve feet 

 in length; pinch out the growing points, and 

 riffidly stop aU laterals to one leaf; admit 

 air by the top and side ventilators during 

 briffht weather, and maintain a day tempera- 

 ture of from 70 to 75 degrees, allowing a 

 niffht temperature of 65 to 70 degrees. Syringe 

 the plants early in the afternoon, and allow 

 the temperature to rise to 9() or 9o degrees 

 with sun-heat. The vines should be Jull of 

 vigour, and the pots well filled with roots. 

 Sfke every effort to induce the plants to 



build up good strong canes during this 

 month; judicious feeding with chemical and 

 artificial manures should be given. We find 

 it necessary to administer some stimulating 

 manure at least three or four times a week 

 if the best results are to be attained. Keep 

 a sharp look-out for red^spider and thrips 

 and, if discovered, immediate steps must be 

 taken for their eradication. Mildew some- 

 times makes its appearance upon the young 

 lateral leaves, which, if neglected, will soon 

 ruin the foliage; a dusting with flowers of 

 sulphur should be given, and the top ven- 

 tilator left open a little for a few nights. 



LATE VINES.— Tliese will be making a 

 large quantity of lateral growths, which 

 must not be allowed to develop a great length 

 l>efore being pinched ; it is a serious mistake 

 to allow laterals to develop fully before re- 

 loving them. This work should always bt 

 done gradually. Give the border a good 

 soaking with weak lime water, examine the 

 outside borders, and, if required, give suffi- 

 cient water to thoroughly moisten the soil 

 down to the drainage, and place a good 

 mulching of stable manure upon the surface 

 immediately after the watering has been 

 done. — Henrt R. Farmer, Cardiff Castle 

 Gardens. 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



THE MIXED BORDEE.— This requires a 

 good deal of attention to keep it smart and 

 tidy, but no pains should be spared to give 

 the different subjects necessary attention. 

 Remove all dead flower stems, and continue 

 to attend to the support of all plants in active 

 growth. Do not allow any of the subjects to 

 suffer for want of water at the roots, but give 

 liberal soakings whenever the first si^ns of 

 drought appear. Dahlias, Lobelia cardinaUs, 

 and any lar^e-leaved foliaged plants that are 

 employed will derive especial benefit from 

 thorough waterings, without which they will 

 not attain their full development. Various 

 subjects will be greatly benefited by a good 

 mulching after water has been applied, as 

 this keeps the roots cool and moist. Ke^p 

 the spaces between the plants regularly 

 stirred with the Dutch hoe, while hand weed- 

 ing must be practised where the hoe cannot 

 be used. Sweet williams should be removed 

 as soon as they have done flowering, and 

 their places filled with early-flowering chry- 

 santhemums, which will need to be well sup- 



J. T. Bahkeb. ■ j-g^ ^^^Yi water until establislied. 



HOSES.— It is desirable to give attention 

 to tlie climbing varieties at the present time, 

 cutting out any old flowering sho^^^.Tf"^ 

 making room for the young growths. laKe 

 care not to injure the strong baeal shoots, as 

 these will form the flowering growths ne^ 

 .season. Beds of roses should l^^ve the de^ 

 blooms picked off every week and the surtace 

 soil carefully raked over. When wa^^^ has 

 to be given at the roots liquid stimubnte 

 can be applied with advantage, and ^en 

 extra fine blooms are required ^'^buddmg 

 must be judiciously earned out. W ™ 

 first appearance of mildew, spray the plants 

 with ^me reliable specific. Flowers of sul 



phur mixed with a little soft 

 solved in warm water, forms a simple ana 



effective remedy. 



SEEDLINGS. -These need careful ha»^ 

 ling when they are pricked out, th^ 

 subjects required for next reason s sprm^^ 

 display are ready to be transferred to nu 

 sery bids. Most of these do very well 

 space of eight inches between the™ each way 

 Give them an open position, and damp 

 during the evening after bright sunny m 



GENEEAL WOBK.-Azaleas and rhodo^ 

 dendrons should have their seed poos 

 moved. The various hedges ^fu f^^^uid 



a formally trained ^Jirubs sti 



be clipped. A further sowing "^^S\ny 

 may be made on a shady border ana 



other late-sown annuals att^n- 

 Formal flower beds require frequent 



tion, as the various subjects, ^^ra 

 and heliotropes, must be n^^tly ti«i 

 time to time. Bwarf plants employee 



carpeting require to be .^ft^^l^G ■ 

 down.— J. Gardneh, Batsford FarK 



- 



