Deckmbeb 7, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



943 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



THE ORCHID HOUSES. 



SOPHRONITIS GEANDIFLOEA. — This 



species, on account of the effectiveness of its 

 brilliant scarlet flowers, is indispensable ait 

 thie season of the year. It is now producing 

 its flowering shoots from the partially de- 

 veloped growths, and will need plenty of 

 water at the root till the flowers have lost 

 their freshness, but none must be allowed to 

 come in contact with them, Eepotting may 

 be performed immediately after flowering, or 

 when growth commences, using a compost 

 similar to that required by cattleyas. This 

 plant succeeds best grown in shallow pans, 

 suspended at the warmest end of the cool 



house. 



SOPHRONITIS HYBRIDS, 

 between fifty and 



There are 

 sixty beautiful and re- 



markable hybrids which have been obtained 

 by crossing and inter-crosising the preceding 

 species with cattleyas, Iselias, Iselio-cattleyas, 

 and epidendrume. They flower at different sea- 

 sone of the year, and a collection of hybrids 

 will rarely be without one or more being in 

 bloom nearly the whole year round. Amongst 

 those in flower at the present time must be 

 mentioned the lovely S.-c. Doris, S.-c. Saxa, 

 Sophro-laelia Leda, S.-l. Gratxixae, and 

 numerous secondary hybrids, between this 

 family and other Iselio-cattleyas. With 

 plants having such complex parentage there 

 is a great dive-rsity in the size of the bulbs, 

 and general characteristics, but all are 

 amenable to cultivation. They will succeed 

 under the same conditions as cattleyas, both 

 as regards temperature, compost, and mois- 

 ture. Those plants which have recently 

 bloomed, and are in need of new rooting 

 material, may have it provided them when- 

 ever they are producing new roots. Great 

 care is necessary in giving water at the 

 roots, not only to newly-potted plants, but 

 at all times. They should enjoy a light and 

 airy position in the cattleya house at all 

 seasons. 



EPIPHRONITIS VEITGHI is a very fine 

 hybrid, raised from eophronitis and epiden- 

 drum, and when grown well is nearly always 

 in bloom. It is easily grown if a suitable 

 temperature is provided, and will produce 

 young plants from the old growths and 

 flower stems. These, as soon as they begin 

 to push forth new roots, should be removed 

 with a portion of the old stem attached, and 

 placed in shallow pans, in a similar compost 

 to the preceding species- and varieties. 



ORXTTHIDIUM SOPHRONITIS. — This 

 dwarf-habited species, a fitting companion 

 to the sophronitis on account of its effec- 

 tive scarlet flowers, is of easy cultivation if 

 treated in the same manner as the preceding. 

 On the completion of their growths they 

 should be placed in a light position in a 

 intermediate house, or at the warm end 

 of the cool hou&e, when an abundant crop 

 of their brilliant flowers make it a most 

 effective object 

 Hill Gardens. 



J. T. Barker, The West 



STOVE PLANTS. 



, FERN'S. — Adiantums that have done duty 

 |u the furnishing of the house and have 

 become shabby should now be rested 

 preparatory to restarting them into growth 

 early next year. Provided the majority of 

 the fronds are ripe, no harm will be done if 

 the whole of them are cut off and the supply 

 of water at the roots be gradually reduced, 

 it should, however, be borne in mind that 

 at no time do ferns require what is termed 



<irving off,'' although, like most plants, a 

 partial rest is necessary. A good supply of 

 iiesh, green fern fronds is most useful in 

 3- variety of ways early in the year, and by 

 resting a certain number of plants about this 

 "^inie, and after an interval of a few weeks, 

 I'^potting them, using rich friable soil, this 

 ^'ill be ensured. Other batches may be 

 treated in like manner later on to form a suc- 

 ^^ssional supply of fronds. 



^BPHROLEPIS. — Immense improve- 

 f*ients have been made during recent 



years in the genus nephrolepis, many beau- 

 tifully crested varieties having been raised. 

 They are now unsurpassed by other warm- 

 house ferns for decorative effect, or for the 

 supply of fronds. These latter retain their 

 freshness for a long time when cut and 

 placed in water. Most of these new varie- 

 ties may be readily increased at this season 

 of the year, either by division or by the 

 stolons. These should be carefully severed 

 from the parent plant and put singly in 

 quite small pots filled with open peaty soil. 

 The pots should be plunged in the propagat- 

 ing frame until the young plants are well 

 eistablished, when they should be removed to 

 a light position in a warm house and grown 

 on freely. 



SPECIMEN FERNS.— Large specimens of 

 most kinds of ferns should now be kept quiet 

 by reducin^g the water supply both at the 

 roots and in the atmosphere of the house. 

 Where a fern house exists now is a good 

 time to thoroughly clean both the structure 

 and the plants. Many species and varie- 

 ties being of an evergreen character must 

 not be cut down indiscriminately, but the 

 decaying fronds only need be cut away ; 



neither should these be kept so dry as is 

 recommended for the deciduous kinds. Keep 

 insects, such ias thrips and the white fly, in 

 check by occasional mild fumigation. Hav- 

 ing regard to the extreme tenderness of fern 

 fronds, it is very essential to prevent insect 

 life spreading, as it is not safe to apply 

 strong solutions to destroy them. The dull 

 season is the best time to wage war with 

 them. 



BERTOLONIAS. — These dwarf-growing 

 tropical plants are remarkable for their 

 richly-marked foliage, and are exceedingly 

 pretty when arranged as an edging to the 

 stages where a close, moist atmosphere is 

 maintained. The plants should be arranged 

 at the warmest part of the plant stove for 

 the winter months. — H. T. Martin, Warren 

 Wood Gardens. 



FRUITS UNDER CLASS. 



CUCUMBERS.— The mild weather which 

 we have experienced here up to the present 

 time has been favourable to the growth of 

 the fruiting plants, and also to the young 

 plants that have been recently planted out. 

 Maintain a bottom heat of from 70 to 75 

 degrees, and the house temperature about 

 the same, with artificial heat. It will not be 

 necessary to admit air to the house, and 

 though on bright, sunny days the temperature 

 will rise, no harm will be done if the paths 

 and walls are well damped dowu with tepid 

 water several times. Give water to the 

 roots when required, heated to a tempera- 

 ture of 75 degrees. Give the plants a light 

 top-dressing occasionally, with equal parts 

 of well-decayed manure and fibrous loam; 

 avoid the use of a too stimulating manure at 

 this season of the year, or an over-1 

 of foliage will be the result ; carefuly at- 

 tend to the stopping of the laterals, but no 

 hard-and-fast rule can be adopted at this 

 season of the year. Exercise judgment, and 

 allow a little more freedom of growth to 

 assist the plants to become strong and 

 vigorous; at the same time stopping must 

 be done to promote an even growth, and 

 also fruitfulness. Keep the glass clean, so 

 as to admit as much light as possible. Bear 

 in mind that daily attention and watchful- 

 ness wiU have to be exercised if the best 

 results are to be obtained. 



TOMATOES.— Seeds should be sown this 

 month, for plants to supply ripe fruit early 

 in the 'spring months. Sow the seeds thinly 

 in shallow pans, in a light sandy compost, 

 and place in a temperature of 65 degrees. 

 When the seedlings have made their first 

 pair of rough leaves, they should, without 

 any delay, be transferred into thumb pots. 

 When well established in these pots they 

 will require another shift into a larger siz^e. 

 and to be grown on in a temperature of 

 from 55 to 60 degrees. No attempt should 

 l>e made to subject the plants to a high 

 temperature in the winter months; allow 

 the plants to develop in a fairly moderate 

 temperature to secure stout-jointed growths. 



Allow plenty of ventilation when the 

 weather permits. 



FIGS. 



Introduce a small batch of trees 

 into heat ; the pots should be 



in pots, into licat ; the pots 

 plunged in a moderate bottom-lieat, which 

 can be supplied by means of a mixture of 

 half beech or oak leaves and stable litter. 

 Give the soil in the pots a good soaking 

 with tepid water, and carefully examine the 

 trees to ascertain if they are free from insect 

 pests. 



STRAWBERRIES.— Protect the pota from 

 frost, and allow the crowns to be exposed 

 to as niucli light as iKvssiblo; introduce an- 

 other batch of plantvs to a temperature of 

 45 degrees, and allow tlie earliest batch a 

 temperature of 55 degrees at niglit and 60 

 degrees b^^ day, with artificial heat. Exer- 

 cise care in giving the plants stimulating 

 maniires, or otherwise there will bo a ten- 

 dency to produce leafage rather than fruit. 

 Henhy R. Faumek, Cardiff Castle Gardens. 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



TRANSPLANTING SHRUBS.— The recent 

 ]nild weather has been very favourable to 

 planting operations, and every opportunity 

 should be taken for carrying it out before 

 there is a change in the condition of soil and 

 weather. When moving shrubs of all sizes 

 it is important to lift them with a good ball 

 of soil about their roots, so that there may 

 be only a slight check to grovrtli tlie follow- 

 ing season. It is necessary to take out a 

 trench at a sufficient distance from the main 

 stem to enable removal to be carried out 

 without damage to the roots. When plant- 

 ing it is of the utmost importance to take 

 out holes large enough to enable the roots 

 to be spread out fully and evenly, as to 

 cramp them into insufficient space is decidedly 

 harmful. In dealing with delicate or tender 

 subjects where the soil is heavy and reten- 

 tive it is a decided advantage to place some 

 specially prepared fine soil around the root« 

 to give them a good, start in their new posi- 

 tions , 



PAMPAS GRASS.— This elegant subject i 

 now seen to advantage, and the tall, erect 

 plumes render it a striking object whether 

 planted as isolated specimens on the lawn 

 or near ornamental water. Pampas grass 

 looks well associated with bamboos, but it 

 should be given a fairly sheltered position, 

 as strong winds do considerable damage to 

 the feathery plumes. It is practically 

 hardy, but in very cold districts it is well 

 to provide it with some protection during 

 severe weather. 



HARDY BAMBOOS. — It is during the 

 autumn and winter months that these are 

 seen at their best, and this season they are 



especially fine. Although detrunental to so 

 many subjects the wet summer suited bam- 

 boos admirably, and several varieties have 

 made unusually tall growths, especially 

 Arundinaria aristata, which has attained the 

 record height for this species of 16ft. This 

 is a distinct and handsome bamboo with 

 purple br/anchletsi that should always be 

 planted, and it is perfectly hardy. The 

 plants in these gardens thrive remarkably in 

 the rich, calcareous loam. They are growing 

 at a height of 800ft. above sea-level, and do 

 not receive any protection. They are shel- 

 tered from all the cold winds by groups of 

 evergreens and conifers, and there is no doubt 

 those are the conditions, most suited to their 



requirements. When seen at their best they 

 are graceful, and impart quite a tropical 

 a^ect to the gardens. Cut out any dead 

 canes in the spring, and apply a top-dressing 

 of rich manure annually at that period until 

 the plants are well established. The best 

 time to plant is just lief ore growth com- 

 mences. 



TRACHYCARPUS 



EXCELSUS. 



This 



palm is quite hardy, and is invaluable for 

 associating with bamboos, but, like them, 

 requires a sheltered position. It has an 

 attractive appearance on a terrace, and is 

 greatly l>enefited by a liberal mulch of well- 

 decayed manure in the spring. — J. Gardner, 

 Batsford Park Gardens. 



