744 



THE 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



September 28, 1912. 



of this useful genus there is none that can 

 excel O. varicosum Eogersi for autumn 

 flowering. The flowers of all the kinds I 

 have mentioned are showy, last a consider- 

 able time, are produced freely on erect, 

 branching spikes, and therefore are desir- 

 able for any purpose; but the enormous 

 number of bloom-s borne upon a single 

 panicle taxes the plants very severely, and 

 so weakens them that they take a very long 

 time to recover. Owing to the cheapness of 

 O. varicosum Kogersi, tliis is not of so much 

 consequence as in the case of some others. 

 Tn the case of rare and scarce varieties it 

 is wise not to let them flower too often, 

 taking care that the plants are in good 

 health with plenty of roots, and thoroughly 

 established when allowed to produce flowers. 

 Even with established plants, care should be 

 taken that the flower spikes are not allowed 

 to remain upon the plants too long, and as 

 soon as all the flowers are open the spikes 

 should be removed. 



CULTIVATION OF ONCIDIUMS. 

 best cultivated in shallow 



Thesie 



are oesc cuitivatea in snaiiow pans, sus- 

 jxjnded near the roof glass, where they may 

 receive plenty of light and air, and be shaded 

 from bright sunshine. In such conditjons 

 the growth will be hard and solid. TThey 



need a considerable amount of ventilation at 

 this season, when the 



ason, wnen tne pseudo-bulbs are 

 making up, as there are few orchids which 

 more resent being grown in a confined, stuffy 

 atmosphere. Close observation of the roots 

 is the best guide as to the quantity of water 

 the plants need at this season. Plants grow- 

 ing and rooting freely must have ample sup- 

 plies of water whenever they become dry, and 

 it will be noticed that the roots are most 

 active at the time the flower spikes are form- 

 ing. Many are now producing their flower 

 spikes freely, and should be carefully 

 guarded against injury from pests. All these 

 oncidiuma are best wintered in a well-venti- 

 lated structure, and those which have been 

 grown in the cool house during the summer 

 months will be better if removed to the cool 

 end of the intermediate house, whore the de^ 

 sired conditions can be maintained for 

 them during the winter. After the flowers 

 have faded the plants should be allowed to 

 rest, and only sufficient water ho given them 

 to enable the pseudo-bulbs and loaves to keep 

 plump and healthy, — J. T. Barker, West 

 Hill Gardens. 



STOVE PLANTS. 



BEGONIA GLOIRE DE LOEEAINE — So 

 useful and popular has this begonia and it8 

 sports become that we are inclined to 

 wonder how we could do without them. 

 They are indispensable plants for flowering 

 during winter and spring, and, provided one 

 has a clean, healthy stock, there need be 

 no difficulty in having finely-flowered plants 

 for at least six months in the year. The 

 number of batches in various stages will, of 

 course, be governed by the particular needs 

 of the establishment, and the space at com- 

 mand. In our case the earliest batch is a 

 small one, and they are the best of last 

 yearns plants shaken out and potted up last 

 -pring, and grown quietly all the summer. 

 These are now fine specimens in 24's, and 

 full of blossom. We have ceased to remove 

 the buds from the first batch of young plants, 

 and they will be available for decorative 

 purposes in a few weeks. Other successional 

 plants will have the flower buds pinched off 

 for a while longer, aud allowed to bloom as 

 required. The latest batch should be as 

 large as circumstance will alloAv, for perhaps 

 these are the most useful of all, coming into 

 bloom when there is a dearth of bright 

 flowers. These should be potted at this time, 

 unless they are to be kept in small pots to 

 fit bowls, or other receptacles in the house. 

 This procedure will induce them to make re- 

 newed growth, and but few flower buds. 

 Huds that appear should be assiduous! v re- 

 moved for some time to come to keo]) the 

 plants growing freely and sturdily. Altliough 

 this typ*^ of bo^oiiia revels in a humid at- 

 rnosphoro wlo.„ ui a( tive growth, the struc- 

 ture should be kopt ventilated throughout 

 the day when fine, and a little top ventila- 



tion be left on during mild nights. This will 

 ensure short - jointed and free - flowering 

 growth. The earliest batehes should be ac- 

 corded special attention in this respect, and 

 for preference they should be accommodated 

 in a house having bottom ventilation near 

 the hot-water pipes, as well as at the apex of 

 the house. Continue to give periodical ap- 

 plications of liquid manure until the plants 

 are in full flower, when only clear water 

 should be given. Nothing is so safe and 

 all-round reliable as liquid manure made 

 from sheep or cow droppings, with a little 

 soot added. Fowl or pigeon manure is also 

 recommended, provided it has been laid aside 

 for a few weeks before use, and then it 

 should be well diluted, 



OTHER WINTER-FLOWERING BEGO- 

 NIAS, as Winter Cheer, Ensign, Julius, etc., 

 should be kept growing freely on the same 

 lines as for the Lorraine type, but I think 

 more skill is required to grow them well. 

 We find it is a good plan to occasionally 

 change the stock of these varieties, and, if 

 possible, procure them from a distance. An 

 occasional mild fumigation with a nicotine 

 compound will keep rust in check, if given 

 in the early stages. In cases of a bad 

 attack it is best to burn the whole of the 

 affected plants, and get new stock. We had 

 this pest badly in the variety Patrie last 

 year, but a few young plants from another 

 source enabled us to renew the stock, and 

 now the batch is in rude health. Without 

 doubt some varieties are 



rust than others. 

 Wood Gardens. 



H. 



susceptible to 

 T. Martin, Warren 



FRUITS UNDER CLASS. 



STRAWBERRIES IN POTS.— Give the 

 plants plenty of room, to allow sunshine and 

 air to circulate freely about them, so that 

 the crowns will be fully developed and well 

 ripened by the end of the autumn. The 

 bright, sunny weather which we have 

 I>erienced for the past few weeks has had a 

 marked effect upon the growth of the plants. 

 The earliest potted batch will be benefited 

 by occasional watering of liquid manure and 

 soot-water, but avoid the use of chemical 

 manures at this stage of their growth. Keep 

 the plants free from weeds and decayed 

 foliage, remove all runners and side growths 

 as soon as they appear, and guard against 

 dryness at the roots ; bjit, at the same time, 

 only give sufficient water. Keep the soil 

 in a moist condition. Syringe the plants 

 several times with a solution of soft soap 

 and sulphur to ward off the attacks of red 

 spider and mildew; lay the pots on their 

 sides when performing this operation so 

 that the under-sides of the leaves are tho- 

 roughly syringed' with the mixture. If 

 worms are troublesome in the soil, they can 

 be eradicated by using a weak solution of 

 lime-water, 



RENOVATING VINES.-Presuming that 

 all the grapes have been cut, this is the best 

 time to lift the roots of vines that are in 

 an unsatisfactory condition. Before com- 

 mencing operations a suflicient quantity of 

 good soil must be made ready, so that the 

 work can be carried out expeditiously the 

 compost should consist of good fibrous 'loam 

 chopped up into small pieces (it should have 

 been cut and stacked for at least six months) 

 incorporate with the loam plenty of old 

 mortar rubbish, wood-ashes, charcoal and 

 bone-meal; turn it over together several 

 times and allow it to remain in a heap for a 

 lew days previous to being used. When 

 dealing: with the roots and borders, com- 

 mence by taking out a trench three feet 

 wide, down to the drainage material. Cut 

 off all the roots that are found in the trench 

 which should be a distance of from six to ten 

 feet away, if space permits, from the base 

 of the vine. Carefully remove the soil from 

 among tho ro.its witli a garden fork, gradu- 

 ally workin<T towards the main stem'. Exer- 

 cise great care as the work proceeds so as 

 not to injure the roots, which should be 

 carefully tied together in loose bundles and 

 covered with wet mats to prevent them from 

 drying. When this work is finished, carefully 

 examine the drainage, and if not satisfac- 



tory, 

 place 



mass . 

 than 

 when 

 soil. 



take means to set this matter right- 



the new soil under the roots, and lav 



these out so that they are not in a' confused 



The top roots should not be deeper 

 four inches from the finished surface 

 they have been covered with the new 

 Make the soil quite firm as the work 

 proceeds, and when the filling in has been ac- 

 complished the whole border should be given 

 sufficient tepid water to settle the soil 

 Mulch' the surface with long litter, ancl 

 where the foliage is in a srood healthy con- 

 dition, the leaves must be kept well syringed 

 to prevent flagging; while some means must 

 be adopted to shade the vines for a few 

 weeks until they have recovered from the 

 check.— Henby R. Farmer, Cardiff Castle 

 Gardens. 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



PHYGELIUS CAPENSIS.— For an autuiim 

 display this plant, sometimes known as the 

 Cape Figwort, is very attractive. It growg 

 about 3tt, high^ and its rich scarlet flowers 

 are produced in. branching racemes at the 

 ends of the shoots. It is quite hardy, but it 

 succeeds best in a sheltered position. It 

 prefers a. light rich soil, and is propagated by 

 cuttings, preferably from the base of the 

 stems, as these are furnished with rootlets. 



ZAUSCHNERIA CALIFO'ENICA. — The 

 Calif ornian Fuchsia is a lovely plant for 

 autumn flowering, and is seen at its best 

 during September. Its bright vermilion 

 flowers are freely produced on erect stems, 

 15in. in height. It flourishes in sandy loam 

 in the rock garden, but should be given a 

 warm, sheltered position. It also grows 

 successfully on an old wall when once estab- 

 lished, and is best propagated from divifiion 

 of the roots or from seeds. 



ANEMONE JAPONICA.— This is one of 

 the most effective subject,s at the present 

 season, and the plants are producing an un- 

 usually bright display It is suitable for the 

 herbaceous border or for planting in shrub- 

 beries, and it invariably succeeds best when 

 not disturbed for a number of years. Rosea 

 superba is a charming variety that should 

 always be grown in addition to the white 

 form. 



OOLCHICUMS. — These hardy bulbous 

 plants contribute a bright display in the 

 autumn, and, as the flowers open in succes- 

 sion, there is quite a long season of bloom. 

 They are very effective growing among dwarf 

 subjects in the rock garden, which is a 

 better position for them than the flower bor- 

 der. They are probably seen at their best 

 when naturalised in the grass, as the green 

 forms a pleasing contrast and shows them to 

 advantage. C. autumnale, with rosy-purplo 

 flowers, is well known. C. Parkinsoni 

 quite distinct, with singularly chequered 

 markings on its violet-purple flowers. C 

 speciosum is a beautiful form, with large 

 rosy-purple flowers, quite a foot above the 

 ground. It prefers light sandy soil, and a 

 fairly dry situation, exposed to full sunshine. 



GENERAL WORK.— Take every care to 

 keep the flower garden attractive and gay as 

 long as possible. Upon, the first eig^i ^\ 

 frost remove tender plants to a place 

 safety. Terrace plants, like agaves and bays, 

 will need to be housed, and any other large 

 specimens that are kept. All bedding plants 

 that are required for another year must 

 stored in a cool pit where frost can be ex- 

 cluded. Most of the subjects will be pottea 

 up. and during bright days should 

 syringed regularly. Tuberous-rooted 



gonias should be carefully dried when 1^*^^^' 

 and plants of Lobelia cardinalis rntist 

 boxed up and kept in a cool house, with ver^ 

 little water at the roots during the winter^ 

 Attend to all cuttings carefully, and giy 

 air when they are rooted, also oick off any a ^' 

 cayed foliage that appears. Procure 

 supply of protecting material for differs 

 purposes. Where bulbs are grown, V^^^f l 

 the beds for them without delay. Those tna^ 

 are intended for naturalising in grass can ^ 

 planted now; bold planting, comprising 



large number of a variety in a group i^J. 

 TYincf ftff/ir»+,*TTrt ^^^\.r.A J Gardner, l>ai'^ 



of 



he- 



most effective Tfiethod. 

 ford Park Gardens. 



