804 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



October 19, 1912. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



tliey have become accustomed to tliis treat- 

 ment for about three weeks they may be 

 taken into warmer quarters, a few at a time, 

 and gradually forced. 



THE ORCHID HOUSES. 



MAXILLARIAS.— This large genus con- 

 tains many species which, on aecount of the 

 small size of their flowers, are not worthy of 

 cultivation as decorative plants. The follow- 

 ing species comprise the best and mo^ gene- 

 rally grown : M. Sanderiana, M. eplendens, 

 M Turneri, M. venusta, M. luteo-alba and 

 the old and useful M. grandiflora. The last- 

 named is very desirable for blooming at the 

 present season, and its fragrant flowers are 

 always acceptable. These species are all of 

 evergreen habit, and are easy to cultivate, 

 and, as a rule, rarely fail to produce flowers. 

 A well-ventilated, cool intermediate house 

 meets their requirements the year round, and 

 with the exception of M. Sanderiana, all may 

 be grown in ordinary flower pots. Should 

 space be limited the whole may be grown like 

 M. Sanderiana, in teak baskets, suspended 

 from the roof. In the cultivation of these 

 plants in ^baskets, it is not advisable to place 

 crocks at the bottom, but a few pieces of 

 fern rhizomes, to prevent the compost being 

 washed away when dipping the plants. M. San- 

 deriana often prodxices its flower spikes hori- 

 zcntally from the base of the pseudo-bullxs, 

 and pushes thent* through the compost in a 

 downward direction. 



COMPOST.— Good fibrous peat, Osmunda 

 fibre, and sj^hagnum moss, in equal propor- 

 tions, form the most su it abl e root i n g 

 n:edium. The earthy particles should be 

 removed from the fibres as advised in jire- 

 vious noteiS. The roots, in most cases, are 

 somewhat large and fleshy, and should not 



have the compost placed about them too 

 firmly, and the material used in the compost 



should be as rough, and in as large lumps 



as is consistent with the size of the pots, or 



baskets. When ^rown in pots maxillarias 



must be well drained, and the remarks made 



respecting rebasketing are also applicable 



to repotting. 



IXSECT PESTS.— Maxillarias, if grown in 

 too higli a temperature, or in an atmosphere 

 iriclined to be dry, are subject to attacks of 

 red Sipider, which must be eradicated by 

 sponging, or some other method. 



MASDEVALLIA TOVARENSIS, and spe- 

 cies of the Chimseroid section, which require 

 a slightly warmer position than the cool 

 house, affords during the winter months, 

 should be removed to the intermediate house 

 and be suspended at the coolest and most airy 

 part. They require plenty of water at all 

 lin es. These plants also are subject to the 

 attacks of red spider, and yellow thrips, 

 especially during their sojourn in the warmer 

 division, therefore they must he carefully 

 examined from time to time. — J. T. Barker, 

 The We^t Hill Gardens. 



CONSERVATORY AND 



HOUSE. 



GREEN- 



AZALEAS. — Few plants can surpiiss tlipse 

 for general u&efulneas in the conservatory 

 during the winter and spring months. Large 

 numbers of splendid, well-budded plants are 

 imported annually both of indica and mollis 

 varieties, and no plants, to my mind, give 

 such a quantity of bloom in return for the 

 small outlay and lalx>ur required. One sees 

 these plants sold by auction in many of the 

 large towns in England, and they can often 

 be thus purchased at a ridiculously low price. 

 I do not, however, recommend buying these 

 plant-s in this way, as it is a risky proceeding, 

 but rather would advise purchasers to obtain 

 them from some reliable nurseryman. Azaleas 

 are very fine rooting subjects, and when im- 

 ported can be accommodated in rather small 

 pots. Tlie principal compost for azaleas will 

 be peat and silver sand. Plants should be 

 ordered soon, and directly they are received 

 they should be repotted and the soil rammed 

 firm. They should be stood in cold frames, 

 and sprayed occasionallv ; they must not be 

 nllowed to become dry 'at the roots or the 

 leaves will soon drop, and the buds will not 

 develop, but turn soft and brown. After 



herbaceous spiraeas 

 palmata, S. astil- 



SPIB^AS.— The many 

 such as S. japonica, S. 



boides, S. Peach Blossom, and S. Queen Alex- 

 andra are now available in large quantities, 

 and should be secured and potted up forth- 

 with. These are extremely useful, and when 

 a batch is well grown, many spikes of flowers 

 ia varying h ues give a del i gh t f ul effect . 

 Spira-as like a heavy compost, and should 

 be potted- firmly. When growing they will 

 need any amount of water^ and should on no 

 account be allowed to become dry. When the 

 flower spikes are advancing it may be neces- 

 sary to water the plants twice daily. 



. LILY OF THE VALLEY. — Retarded 

 crowns can still be obtained, and where quan- 

 tities are required batches of crowns should 

 be potted up fortnightly. The quality of the 

 soil used does not matter, as the crowns 

 do not make fresh roots during the process 

 of forcing, but a light porous soil is best. 

 Cocoa-nut fibre refuse is also a good material 

 to place them in. Nine or twelve crowns 

 should be placed in each 5in. pot, and put in 

 a warm house, standing another pot of the 

 same size upside down over the crowns, to 

 keep them dark for a few days. These can 

 be had in bloom in about fourteen days from 

 the time of potting and placing them in 

 heat. — Lewis Smith, Norwich. 



HARDY FRUITS. 



CHERRIES.— By selecting suitable varie- 

 ties it is possible to grow cherries on 

 any aspect, the warmer and more protected 

 aspects will naturally be the most suitable 

 for the earlv varieties. East and west 



■ r 



aspects should be chosen for mid-season sorts, 

 and walls facing a northerly direction may 

 be utilised for the late cherries. The fol- 

 lowing list comprises most of the best, and 

 will ensure a succession of fruits!, Early 

 Rivers, Bigarreau Jaboulay, Bigarreau de 

 Schrecken, Frogmore Bigarreau, Knight's 

 Early Black, Governor Wood, Elton Heart, 

 Black Tartarian, Emperor Francis, Waterloo 

 Heart, Noble, Bigarreau Napoleon, Florence, 

 St. Margaret's, May Duke, Guigne d'Anno- 

 nay. Late Duke, and Guigne de Winckler. 

 Morello, Flemish Red, and Scarlet King suc- 

 ceed well on a north wall. KentLsh Red 



is a prolific cropper of rich flavour, 

 makes an excellent preserve. 



and 



NECTARINES. 



A selected list of nec- 



tarines for planting will include such varie 

 ties as Early Rivers, Lord Napier, Elruge, 

 Dryden, Rivers' Orange, Pineapple, Hum- 

 boldt, and Spencer. Stanwick Elruge is a 

 fine variety, but requires a warm and well- 

 protected position. 



PEACHES.-lTiere are now so many excel- 

 lent peaches that it is a difficult matfter to 

 decide upou which varieties to include or 

 omit in a comprehensive list which will give 

 a succession of fruits throughout the season. 

 Tlie following are all of ^ sterling merit : 

 Duchess of Cornwall, Amsden June, Water- 

 loo, Hale 8 Early, Rivers' Early York, Early 

 Grcsse Mignonne, Peregrine, Crimson Gal- 

 ande, Alexandra Noblepse, Dymond, Stirling 

 Castle, Prince of Wales, Sea Eagle Late 

 Devonian, Princess of Wales, and Golden 

 Eagle. 



PLUMS.— The best dessert kinds are Early 

 Transparent, Transparent (original variety) 

 Late Transparent Gage, Kirke's Blue Green 

 Gage, Jefferson, Bryanston Gage, ' Comte 

 d'Althan's, Peine Claude de Bavay, Coe's 

 Golden Drop, Coes Violet. Golden Trans- 

 parent, and Late Orange. All the foregoing 

 are worthy the protection of a wall and few 

 of the gagee succeed perfectly Wthout it 

 Good culinary varieties that will afford a 

 succession from mid-July to Noveml>er are • 

 Rivers' Early Prolific, Czar, Sultan, Belgian 

 Purple, Victoria. Ponds Seedling, Primate 

 President, Monarch, and Wyedale. Where 

 possible trees of the later varieties should 

 be planted against a wall, preferablv a west 

 aspect, where it is possible to protect the 

 trees at any time against the attack of birds 



either during the swelling of the flower buds 

 or when the fr;iits are ripe. The serious 

 effects of cold winds and frost may also be 

 minimis'ed during the flowering period, and 

 swelling up of the young fruits in the same 

 way. Some varieties of those enumerated as 

 cooking plums are, when fully ripe, good for 

 dessert, notably Rivers' Early Prolific, Czar, 

 Sultan, and President. 



DAMSONS. — Bradley's King and Shrop- 

 shire Prune are the finest in point of size. 

 The Merryw^eather (a new variety), is a very 

 fine fruit, and will no doubt be largely grown 

 in the near future. Farleigh Prolific is an 

 immense cropper, but the fruits are small. 



FIGS. — The finest variety for outdoor cul- 

 ture is Brown Turkey ; Brunswick, and White 

 ^Marseilles may be included if variety is 

 desired. Figs should be afforded a warm 

 position against a wall, or if grown, in bush 

 form, they must have a we 11 -protected situa- 

 tion, where they will receive the maximum of 

 sunheat. The wood needs to be thinly 

 trained, and the roots restricted. — W. 

 Messenger, Woolverstone Park Gardens. 



THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



CUCUMBERS.— To maintain a regular 

 supply at this season of the year, and on- 

 wards, great care must be exercised. Plants 

 from seeds sown in August are now coming 

 into bearing, and will need every encourage- 

 ment to promote stout growths before the 

 winter months arrive. Never over-crop the 

 plants and always keep them perfectly clean. 

 Maintain a steady temperature and an atmos- 

 phere in accord with, outside conditions. 

 Top-dress very lightly each week with a mix- 

 ture of sweet loam, flaky leaf-soil, and a little 

 mushroom bed manure, all w^armed before 

 use. Cut the fruits as soon as large enough 

 so as not to unduly strain the plants. 



RUNNER BEANS.— The late sowings of 

 these and of climbing French beans are still 



{producing serviceable crops. Gather when 

 arge enough, and lay those not required on 

 a damp mat. Keep the rows safe from frost 

 by using some protecting material at night. 



RHUBARB 



have been 

 satisfac- 



CROWNS that 

 grown for forcing are ripening 



torily as a result of the fine and dry Septem- 

 ter we have had. These will make excellent 

 material for forcing. It will be the better 

 plan, where very early forcing is contem- 

 plated, to expose the roots entirely, working 

 all the soil away so as to expose them to the 

 weather for ten days or more, previously to 

 placing them in the forcing quarters. This 

 treatment will give the rhubarb a complete 

 rest, and the response, when placed in heat, 

 will be very marked. 



SEAKALE.— This crop has formed very 

 fine, strong crowns this year, and, like rhu- 

 barb, is ripening o£E its foliage very early. 

 If any of the foliage is green let the crop 

 be taken up, lay on the ground for a few 

 hours for the foliage to wilt, when it can 

 then be cut oif without any loss from bleed- 

 ing. Place in mushroom-houses or other 

 structures of similar temperature, and k^P 

 quite dark. Give regular supplies of water 

 at the roots. Later lifted plants will be 

 found to shed their leaves easily and com- 

 pletely. In forcing this crop beds of ordi- 

 nary soil, with a good supply of leaf-mould 

 added, can be formed, or deep boxes or 

 large flower-pots be used. 



GENERAL REMARKS.— The lovelv enm- 

 mer-like weather of the last five weeks will 

 help to ripen and harden up all vegetable 

 crops, and enable them to withstand the com- 

 ing winter. Any assistance that can be 

 sriven in this direotion should be afforded - 

 Much may be done by removing all decaying 

 leaves. Brussels sprouts will greatly benefit 

 from this treatment. While fine weather 

 continues dig over vacant plots as rous^hly as 

 possible; the ground will benefit much if so 

 treated until time for trenching arrives. 

 Frosts must be expected, and prepared for. 

 Continue to earth up celery and cardoons; 

 hoe and fill up cabbage plots; winter par.sley. 

 lettuces, spinach, turnips, and onions will l>e 

 the better for an application of soot or wood 



pshes.— G Eo. EiiLwooD, Swanmore Park Gar- 

 dens. 



