984 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



December 21, 1912. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK 



STOVE PLANTS. 



CLOXINIAS— A 



b 



■Q 



I 



batch may now 

 plac-cd iii a warm lioiise, selecting' 

 conns that have been longfest at rest, 

 do not advise shaking- the cornis out and 

 repotting for oarly flowering, but prefer to 

 prick over the surface soil with a pointed 

 stick, and top-dress with sweety rich com- 

 post. I find that new growth commences 

 much quicker in the dull season under this 

 treatment. Place the batch on a light shelf 

 in a structure that is maintained at about 

 65 degrees, and water sparingly until new 

 growth is well advanced. Examine at inter- 

 vals the whole of the corms left in store, 

 bring them out imnlediately they show signs 

 of starting, and place on a shelf in an inter- 

 mediate house until the time arrives for 

 general repotting. 



CYCLAMEN. — Although these flowers are 

 not classed as stove plants, it is necessary to 

 accord them a genial warmth from the time 

 the seeds are sown until the plants are 

 established in 60-sized pots. By the time 

 these latter are well filled with roots, and 

 each plant is- carrying several stout leaves, 

 tlip weatlier will allow of their transference 

 to a lieated pit, where they mav remain until 

 summer, when a cold frame will suit them 

 well. I invariably sow the seeds early in the 

 month of August, and as soon as the second 

 leaf forms prick off the seedlings into pans 

 of light, rich soil, afterwards putting them 

 singly into thumb pots. To obtain the he>^ 

 results they should be grown on throughout 

 the winter without a check, at the same 

 time avoiding too much heat, or the leaf- 

 stalks will become drawn and spindly. A 

 shelf quite near the roof-glass will suit the 

 young plants best. Allow a little top-venti- 

 lation when iniid weather ])revails. 



^ CLOSING REMARKS.— We are now pars- 

 ing through the dullest time of the year, 

 and until the days lengthen there is' but 

 litMe work in this department of a pres-^ing 

 nature, }>eyond keeping the plants and sur- 

 roundings clean. With the advent of the 

 New Year work will steadily increase.— H 

 T. Maetik, W arren Wood Gardens. 



THE ORCHID HOUSES. 



DENDROBIUMS.-As the deciduous and 

 semi-deciduous dendrobiums are always a fea- 

 ture m good collections during the late win- 

 ter and spring months, it is a wonder thev 

 are not more grown than at present. Foi- 

 ^me time they have appeared to lase favour 

 w^ith oonnois&eiirs, but for amateurs and 

 small growers they are indispensable. Be- 

 sides the well-known species, such as D. War- 

 dianum, D. crassinode, D. nobile, D. aureum 

 D. chrysanthum, D. Pierardi D. tortile d' 

 transparens, D. crystallinum,'©. lituiflprum 



vonianum , with D. niiixu'- 

 bum, and its varietits Bui'kei, IJearei, and 

 Iluttoni, and the laite-flowering D. regium, 

 there are many hybrids that are well worth 

 growing, and in many cases these are im- 

 provementiS upon tj^e. .species from which 

 they were raised. Among them a few of the 

 hest for garden pnrpo^^e,s may be enumerated 

 namely D. splendidissimum and its numerous 

 varieties, D. micans, D. Cvbele, D. Juno D 

 melanodiscus, D, Venus, IJ. Dominianuin D 

 Chessingtonense, D. lliwaitesiae, D. Wiganse 

 D. Wigfanianum, Melpomene, D. Ophir' 

 D. Sibyl, D. Clio, and D. Kenneth. There is 

 great variety in colour in an up-to-daite col- 

 lection of these interesting plants. Many 

 of the plants, which have been resting, and 

 have iTsted properly, will now be showin.o- 

 their flower hu(U, and uiien the buds are 

 fairly developed, the plants may be given a 

 •slightly higher teaqoeratare, whicii will <.n- 

 able the flower to oi>en more quicklv. and li- 

 the moans of prolonging the season of flower- 

 ing. 



EARLY ^ 



■afforded the plants with extreme care/arany 

 undue disturV,ance will not onlv cause the 

 iiew growth. 1. r.u.av pK^nuiturol v, 



amdthu> pv.-vfnt the Uuwer. opening, but ^it 



FLOWERS. 



Water must be 



plants 



IS 



moiat 



will also damage the constitution of the 



In pushing the earliest of these 

 orchids into flower, it is the greatest mistake 

 to unduly hurry tliem in the earlier (stagevs. 

 If the house in which they are placed 



and warm, they may make suffi- 

 cient progress without any water being 

 afforded, but they must l>e examined from 



tirue, in order that the pseudo-bulbs 

 may he prevented from shrivelling. I do 

 not advocate syringing or spraying the 

 plants which are developing their buds. D. 

 Wardianum, D. crassinode, and all the hy- 

 brids which have been obtained from these 

 species, have a tendency to produce new 

 breaks from the base of the flowering growth, 

 and require careful treatment, for if these 

 growths are allowed to extend to any great 

 length, the whole crop of flowers may be lost. 

 Keep such plants in a moderately dry condi- 

 tion in the cool resting house, in order ithat 

 the new growths may remain almost sta- 

 tionary for some time. When the flower 

 buds have half-expanded, the plants may re- 

 ceive more genial trealtment, and the flowers 

 will develop vigorously and quickly. When 

 the flowers are fully open, return the plants 

 to cooler and more airy quarters, where they 

 will last a considerable time in full beauty. 



OTHER KINDS.— There are also a number 

 of species, as D. Bensoniae, D. albo-sangni- 

 neum, D. Parislii, D. rliodopterygium, D. 

 nodatum, D. secundum, D. crepidatum, D. 

 primulinum, D. aduncum, etc., that should 

 be kept in a dry position in the cattleya 

 house during their season of rest, and if 

 their growths are properly maitured they will 

 require very little water at the roots, but 

 they must not be allowed to shrivel or much 

 harm will follow. Shrivelling from any 

 cause is moiS^L detrimental to orchids, and is 

 caused either by an insufficiency or an excess 

 of water at the roots. Superabundance de- 

 cays, and an insufficiency withers the ^oots 

 of the plants.— J. T. Barker, The West Hill 

 Gardens. 



FRUITS UNDER GLASS. 



NECTARINES. 



The 

 few 



PEACHES AND 

 early house that was closed Ujj sonu 

 weeks ago will require a night temperature 

 of from 40 to 45 degrees, allowing a day 

 temperature of 40 to 50 degrees, and, with 

 sun heat, it mav l>e allowed to rise to 

 60 degrees. Give abundance of air when 

 possible, but not in such a manner as to 

 cause any cold draughts. The trees flower 

 naturally outside when the temperature is 

 low, consequently, when grown inside, they 

 must not be subjected to a high temperature 

 at this stage. Lightly syringe the trees on 

 fine days, until the flowers begin, to show 

 colour, when it should be disicontinued until 

 the fruits have set. When the flowers are 

 fully develo]Ded, keep a night temperature 

 of 55 degrees, with a day temperature of 

 about 60 degrees. Commence to disbud, very 

 sparingly at first, removing the shoots that 

 grow from the upper and lower parts of the 

 branches. Keep a sharp look out for green 

 or black fly, and fumigate immediately it is 

 discovered. 



EARLY VINES.— The buds of the vines in 

 the earliest house are pushing into growth, 

 and it will be necessary to gradually increase 

 the night temperature to 60 degrees, with a 

 day temperature of from 65 to 70 degrees. 

 Admit air by means of the top ventilators 

 on mild days, and keep the atmospher 



moist by damping down the 

 paths and walls occasionally. Lightly 

 syringe the rods with tepid wateij on fine 

 days, at closing time; this operation, of 

 course, must not be done if there is any 

 likelihood of frost; the border^ will not 

 require water at the present time if they 

 were thoroughly well soaked before the 

 house was closed. Sufficient care and judg- 



must be exercised at this season of 

 ihv year, so that water is not thrown on the 

 liordensi iin an indiseriminate manner or 

 they will become too wet, and the soil in 

 all probability will become sour and stag- 

 nant and under these conditions it is im- 

 possible for the roots to perform their proper 

 unctions. If the points of the rods were 

 tied down to ensure an even "break," they 



rn<Mit 



should be now tied up in their proper places 

 As soon as this has been accomplished, coin' 

 menoo to disbud, first of all by rubbing off 

 the small growtlie, and lo-se no time in re- 

 ducing them to two shoots on each spur, and 

 finally one of these must be cut off when it 

 can be seen which will produce the best 

 bunch. 



LATER VINES.— Close up another house 

 to maintain, a isupply of ripe grapes in huc- 

 cesnion to the earliest erop; give the borders 

 a good soaking with clean^ water, and pro- 

 ceed on the same lines as that recommended 

 in a previous ealendar. Ripe grape^ hang- 

 ing in tlie late houses should be carefully 

 looked over, and all decayed berries removed 

 at once. It is not a wise plan to allow ripe 

 grapes' to hang upon the vines far into tlie 

 New Year, so preparations should be made 

 forthwith to cut them and carefully place 

 them in bottles in a cool room. It must be 

 borne in miuid that it is quite as essential 

 that the late vines should have a proper 

 period of rest, as the earlier forced ones, so 

 everything should be done to attain this end. 

 —Henry R. Farmer, Cardiff Caetle Gardens! 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



SUMMER BEDDING PLANTS. — The 

 various subjects that were rooted from cut- 

 tin.gs in the autumn require very careful 

 treatment during the winter months. Do 

 not subject them to too high a temperature, 

 but keep them clo-se to the glass to promote 

 sturdy growth. Pick off any decayed leaves, 

 and water with great care. Plants like 

 heliotropes and fuchsias, that were rooted 

 several together in a pot, and are needed as 

 standards, should be potted off into eO's, 

 and grown in an intermediate tem]3erature. 

 Where a large number of bedding plants is 

 required, a start should be made to propa- 

 gate from the stock plaints at once. Speci- 

 men plants being wintered in cool houses or 

 pits should have sufficient water given them 

 to prevent the soil from ]>ecoming dust-dry, 

 but they must not be started into growth 

 until February. Fumigate all bedding plants 

 occasionally to keep down greenfly. 



PERENNIAL ASTERS, or Michaelmas 

 daisied as they are popularly called, should 

 now have their tojis removed and burned. 

 These beautiful autumn flowers have been 

 so greatly improved during recent years, and 

 there are so many charming varieties, that 

 especial care should be taken with their cul- 

 tivation. When a border is devoted entirely 

 to them it is beneficial to replant every year, 

 after manuring the ground well and culti- 

 vating it deeply. With this object in view 

 lift the plants and lay them in on a con- 

 venient piece of ground, so as to have the 

 border in readiness to plant by the end of 

 February. Three single crowns to each 

 station are sufficient, as this will enable 

 each stem to be staked out separately, and eo 

 show their beauty to advantage. 



HIPPOPHyE RHAMNOIDES, which is 

 known as the Sea Buckthorn, is very effec- 

 tive during the autumn and winter, with its 

 clusters of bright orange-coloured berries, 

 and this year berries have teen produced with 

 unusual freedom. It is seen to advantage when 

 planted in masses in a conspicuous position 

 but it is essential to include a few pollen- 

 bearing (male) plants in addition to the 

 female forms which carry the berries. The 

 silvery-grey foliage is a source of attraction 

 during the summer months. 



SEASONABLE WORK.— Have all the 



shrubber . - 



the leaves and decayed vegetation. The 

 whole staff should be put on to this work, so 

 that it may be completed speedily with the 

 object of having the pleasure grounds smart 

 and tidy before Christmas. Subsequently 

 the digging of shrubberies and borders 

 can be proceeded with during favourable 

 weather. Repair and put in order all paths 

 that need regravelliiig, and roll them well 

 during damp weather. * Have at hand mate- 

 rial to protect tender .subjects in case of frost. 

 Prepare a supply of stakes, labels, and pegs 

 for the coming season.— J. Gardner, Bats- 

 ford Park Gardens. 



