844 



THE GARDENERS* MAGAZINE. 



OVEMBER 2, 1911 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



THE ORCHID HOUSES. 



MEXICAX L.ELIAS. 



The principal 



species of tlie.se most useiul plants are L. 

 aibida, L. autumnalis, L. Marriottiana L, 



^ y « 



(jouldiana, and L. aucepis. Those most 

 iLsually met with^ and generally grown 

 are L. axitiinmalis and L. anceps, and when 

 well grown few plants produce more lovely 

 flowers than these at Christmas time. 

 Where (a re2>r'et>entative ^colleation^ of the 

 forms of L. anceps is grown, there is great 

 variety, from the pure white L. anceps alba 

 to the deeply-coloured L. a. Chamberlainiana, 

 besides the many varieties with fiowert> of 

 intermediate shades of colour. L. autumn- 

 alis and its rliaste variety L. a, alba make 

 a strong cniitiM-i when seen in bloom side 

 by side, and this i^ieat diversity in colour 

 ot' the .^iiiMr ^pt'cies makes orchid growing 

 interest i lit;- nud fa.scinating. L. Gouldiana, 

 with ils deeply-coloured yet briglit flowers, 

 which l)hK)ms at a later season than those 

 previously mentioned, and where these Mexi. 

 can la^Iias are grown, it should not be left 

 out, for, thanks to our collectors, it mav 

 now be obtained at reasonable prices. At 

 the present time many of thet^e plants are 

 developing their flower spikes, and care 

 should be taken that none of the spikes are 

 allowed to get so near the roof glas<j as to 

 suffer injury from cold or condensed mois- 

 ture. In low-roofed hourte, where there is 

 insufficient head-room for the long spikes 



they should be carefully tied down to 

 neat stakes, training them in the direction 

 where they will obtain all the sun and light 

 possible. These Iselias delight in sunshine 

 and light at all times, and even during hot 

 weather it is only necessary to shade them 

 during the liotteet and brightest part of the 

 day to prevent .scorching. The plants should 

 be carefully examined at night, and after 

 each watering as woodlice and other pests 

 feed upon the young roots at this season, 

 and do considerable harm. During the 

 fh)\v<'ring reason the plants need only suffi- 

 cient water to keep the compost moist, and 

 afterwards still less will suffice until growth 

 recommences. The usual Mexican or cattleya 

 liouse temperature will answer requirements. 



ODONTOGLOSSUMS, such as 0. citros- 

 mum, which requircis more heat than those 

 that are grown in the cool liouse, generally 

 thrive when grown under similar conditions 

 to the* barkerias. They succeed grown in 

 baskets or ishallow pans suspended from the 

 roof, and now that they are completing 

 their growths they may be placed in the 

 warmest and lightest part of the house, giv- 

 ing them water whenever they require it 

 until growth is complete,' when only suffi- 

 cient to prevent shrivelling must be given 

 tliem. Such plants as O. grande and O. 

 Schlieperianum, that have recently bloomed, 

 should be placed on a dry shelf, or in a 

 similar position in the cool intermediate 

 house, where they will rest. O. Insleayi and 

 its varieties, that are now producing'^ their 

 fiower-spikes, must be copiously supplied with 

 water until the flowers fade, when they may 

 be treated in like manner. Slugs being very 

 partial to the succulent flower spikes of these 

 species, the plants, ^^'e best placed upon 

 pest-proof stands to keep them out of harm's 

 way,— J. T. Barker, The West Hill Gardens 



CONSERVATORY AND 



HOUSE. 



CREEN- 



TRE PEINCIPAL AVORK in the houses at 

 this time will be the care of and attention, to 

 the different subjects that have lately been 

 housed. It is not necessary to employ much 

 heat, especially if the weather remains open 

 and bright during the day, but as the even- 

 ings approach the fires must be made np so 

 that there may be a brisk circiiiatinti in th,. 

 pipes at night. There must l)e artitieial heat 

 flunng wet days, or dampness will goon work 

 Havoc but the plants must also have fresh 

 pl'rmTJ!""'''"" conditions will 



CHRYSANTHEMUMS.— The Japanese and 

 incurved varieties are opening their blooms 

 rapidly. Examine each plant, and remove all 

 side shoots. Earwigs will often be dis- 

 covered hiding in the hollow canes which 

 are used for supports. Caterpillars are most 

 destructive to the blooms, and, being the exact 

 colour of the leaves, are often most difficult 

 to detect; these will be found hiding during 

 the day on the reverse side of the petals of 

 the blooms or underneath the leaves, and 

 they must be picked off and destroyed. Any 

 stakes projecting above the bud should be 

 cut down just underneath it. In rearranging 

 the groups the plants should not be stood too 

 closely together or loss of leaves will lesult; 

 tall plants should be stood in the back with 

 some brought forward at intervals to 

 form mounds^ the dwarf ones being used to fill 

 the spaces l>etween. Artistic arrangement is 

 most essential in the conservatory. When 

 the blooms are halt- developed liquid n £>'ure 

 is no longer required. Should green-fly make 

 its appearance the houses must be fumi- 

 gated two or three times in succession 



PRIMULAS AND CINERARIAS. — Pri- 

 mulas are growing quickly, and will require 

 a lot of feeding il well rooted, and the flower 

 spikes may now be left to develop. Cinerarias 

 also will be growing freely, and, if large spe- 

 cimens are required, the plants growing in 

 5in. pots may now be potted on into lOin. 



ACHIMENES AND GESNERIAS will now 

 have finished flowering, and be gradually 

 dying down; they should be carefully stored 

 away in a dry place, leaving them in their 

 pots until the spring. It is quite possible 

 now, by taking off the young growths of 

 cannas, and potting them regularly (as I have 

 previously described in this Calendar) to ob- 

 tain splendid spikes of these glorious flowers 

 all the year round. Should it, however, be 

 necessary to increase the stock of any particu- 

 lar variety, the old stools may be kept over 

 during the winter. The pots should be stood 

 underneath the stage, and the plants kept 

 dry, and allowed to rest by withholdino- 

 water. ^ 



LACHENALIAS 



AND 



FREESIAS. 



Batches should be potted up at intervals and 

 stood in cold frames, six bulbs of laclienalias 

 placed in each 5in. put will be suffieient 

 while nine bulbs of freesias can be accommo- 

 dated m the same sized pot. These plants 

 like rich hbrous loam, with a little leaf-soil 

 and coarse sand; they should be potted 

 firmly, one inch underneath the surface of the 

 soil, and covered with a layer of cocoanat- 

 fibre or moss until well rooted. 



, SPANISH IRIS.-These are delightful sub 

 jects for pots, and should be treated in ihe 

 same way as lachenalias. They must not be 

 subjected to forcing or the flowers will all 

 come blind.— Lewis Smith, Cadland South- 



ampton. 



HARDY FRUITS. 



TRUNIN G.-An early start i.^ advisable 

 when much pruning has to be done, so that 

 the work may be well advanced before bad 

 weather sets in. Take advantage of the mild 

 periods to carry out such operations which 

 may be more expeditiously performed during 

 genial climatic conditions. The Mor^>llo 

 cherry trees should be first pruned; trees 

 that have received proper treatment will 

 need but a general thinning of the barren 

 shoots, and the removal of spurs and snaS 

 resulting from the shortening back of re? 

 fluous shoots last winter. For my own 

 part I prefer to cut away such shoots aKo 

 gether but some growers convert 1 - em inio 

 spurs by leaving them about an inch n 

 length, these generally bear fruit, henc'e tS 

 reason for leaving them but thpv cl.^, ^ 

 cut clean out the^followinrauUmn '"if t 



beheve general y understood that the MoJello 

 trained on walls produces its fruit , m t 

 previous year's growth similS to he pea 1 

 and nectarine and i« trained in niuch ?hp 

 same way with the exc^-ntinn r.f +i. ■ 

 ..f tho growth. tLXFa™ of tt' 



taking up much less room ihor, !t ^^^^^^V" 



Morello may be severely thinned, and there- 

 fore, where crowded together, many 

 branches and shoots may be removed to cor- 

 rect this evil, with no injury to the tree,^ 

 The oldest and least productive branches 

 should be cut out, and strong young shoots 

 laid in to take their places. It may be neces. 

 s a r y to sh o rt en back s o me of the main 

 branches for the purpose of making space to 

 lay in young and vigorous shoots. When 

 pruning young trees of any kind, keep the 

 centre open, first building up the wings; it 

 is then an easy matter to fill up the middle 

 without seriously affecting the side branches. 

 If the trees are railed, let the rails be drawn 

 out with the exception of a few to hold the 

 main branches in position, the trees may 

 then be sprayed with a winter wash. 



STRAWBERRIES.— Advantage should le 

 taken of a fine day to run the hoe through 

 the land to keep down weeds and aerate the 

 soil; constant stirring of tlic surface soil 

 is most beneficial to young plants. By this 

 time the old decaying leaves of established 

 plants should have been removed, and burnt. 

 A dressing of bone-flour and sulphate of 

 potash lightly forked in will prove benefi- 

 cial to the plants on most soils of a light or 

 medium character; for heavy soils potash 

 may be present, and freshly-slaked |lime 

 would be of more value ; 2^oz. of bone- 

 flour and IvVoz. of sulphate of potash to the 

 square yard' may be used, as a dressing. 



THE FRUIT ROOM.— All specked and de- 

 cayed fruits should be promptly removed, 

 otherwise they quickly spoil their immediate 

 neighbours ; care must be exercised in 

 handling the sound specimens. With the 

 lengthy spell of mild weather experienced of 

 late, it has been somewhat difficult to keep 

 down the temperature of the fruit room. It 

 is a good plan to close the room during the 

 day, and open wide all means for admitting 

 air throughout the night, closing them the 

 first thing in the morning. — -W. Messenger, 

 Woolverstone Park Gardens. 



THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



ASPARAGUS.— The growth of this choice 

 yegetahio should now be quite r\\}e enough 

 for cutting down ; a good sharp hook in 

 capable hands will soon cut the growths 

 close to the ground's surface. Follow this 

 with a clearance of weeds and rubbish. Then 

 lightly prick over the beds with a fork to 

 aerate the soil. It will be a great advantage 

 to strew over the beds burnt garden refuse 

 and soot. After a week or ten days of such 

 airing apply a winter dressing of decayed 

 farm-yard manure for the autumnal rains to 

 carry to the roots. On light and naturally- 

 drained soils this is exceedingly advanta- 

 geous, but wherever the soil is very wet, and 

 therefore retentive, it is the better plan to 

 have an alley between each bed, to provide 

 for winter drainage. 



BROCCOLI. — A few varieties will be form- 

 ing heads, and should therefore l>e examined 

 two or three times a week. Protect them 

 from frosts and wet by tying the leaves to- 

 gether over the heads. Quite early in Nov- 

 emlier the winter and spring broccoli should 

 be heeled over; this procedure, as a rule, 

 i^^n-es 9(J per cent, of tli^e plants during th.- 

 most severe winters. The "heeling'' is ac- 

 complished by taking out a "spit^" of soil 

 immediately north of the plant, then gra- 

 dually tip the plant over to the north, the 

 spit from in front of the following plant 

 bung placed evenly on and around the one 

 ^^^^^^Ay laid over, close up to the leaves. 



Carry out the final blanching 

 ""Ti, ''"^^ lonage is dry, and before severe 

 weather sets in. When completed apply a 

 top-dressing of long stable litter, to prevent 

 heavy rains from washing the earth into the 



^^^d severe frosts. Celery 

 should receive its final earthing. Previous 

 to this apply a good dressing of freshly slaked 

 lime around the stems. 



TARRAGON, MINT, and CHIVES should 

 »>e placed in the forcing pit as the demands 



r^iSy^^i^' ^^^^^ the mint and tarragon beds 

 liberally with old decaying hotbed manure 

 an<i wood ashes, previously cutting down the 

 Old stems.~G. Ellwood, Swanmore Gardens. 



