1002 



THE 



GARDENERS* MAGAZINE. 



December 28, 19i2. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



4^ 



THE ORCHID HOUSES. 



WINTER - FLOWEEING 



CYPEIPE- 



DIUMS. — These most useful plants are now 

 in full beauty, and the many beautiful hy- 

 brids raised during- recent years add charm 

 and variety to our houses. Among the most 

 useful are the finer varieties of C. Leeanum, 

 C. Actseus, C. Thompsoni, C. Thalia, C. Ger- 

 maine Opoix, C. Gaston Bulteel, C. Alci- 

 biades, C. Earl of Tankerville, C. Beekmani, 

 C. Lord Ossulston, C. Maudise (which, when 

 strong", is always in flower), C. Prospero, C. 

 Bianca, C. Euryades, and C. triumphans. 

 As soon as possible after the flower- 

 ing period is over, the plants should be 

 carefully examined, and those that require 

 repotting should receive attention. This is 

 also much the l^est time to divide any that 

 it is advisable to increase the stock of, but 

 I do not recommend the division of the plants 

 into the mi&erable scraps one often sees. 

 There is more satisfaction in filling houses 

 with good plants than with mere fragments. 

 Even in the case of new and rare plants, I 

 think it much the best practice to get a 

 good plant before thinking of propagation. 

 Care should be taken not to injure the roots, 

 as these often run to considerable length, 

 and are easily broken. All the old decom- 

 posed compost should be carefully picked 

 out with a pointed stick, the plants placed 

 in well-drained pots, and the new compost 

 worked carefully }>etween the rooto nearly 

 up to the top of the pots. Owing to the 

 quantity of water cypripediums require 

 when in full growth, it is advisable to leave 

 a space for water, in the same way as for 

 ordinary plants. 



C O M P O ST . — To m v m i nd , a n e x c e s s i ve 

 amount of loam is often recommended for 

 cypripediums, a-s I find when this is used in 

 excess the root action is not so free as when 

 used in moderation, I would adviee every 

 grower to experiment a little in this matter, 

 and find out for himself what answers his 

 purpot^e the besit. Many radical changes 

 have been advocated during recent years in 

 orchid composts, and many, I am afraid, 

 are not to the good of the plants. I have 

 given the compost we use with success in a 

 previous number. 



TEMPERATUEE.— One often sees the 

 cultivation of these plants attempted in too 

 low a temperature. A temperature of 60 

 degrees at night, with a proportionate rise 

 during the day should be provided for them. 

 The atmosphere in which these plantts are 

 grown should at all times be kept humid, 

 with a circulation of fresh air. If grown 

 in a dry atmosphere, thrips attack the young 

 leaves, and soon disfigure them. — J. T. 

 Barker, The West Hill Gardens. 



CONSERVATORY AND 



HOUSE. 



CREEN- 



LILIUMS. — Large quantities of bulbs are 

 now being imported, and the present is a 

 good time to procure them for next 

 mer's display. It is advisable to obtain the 

 best-grade bulbs. I have had bulbs of 

 Liliuni speciosum Melpomene which cost less 

 than Iti, each produce three spikes, carry- 

 ing from thirty to forty flowers altogether. 

 The cultivation is quite simple when pro- 

 perly understood. Most of the bulbs are im- 

 ported from Japan, but some come over 

 from the Continent. I prefer the Japanese 

 bulbs, as they are larger and weightier, and 

 generally can be relied on to give stronger 

 flower s])ikers. AVhen the bulbs are received 

 they should be potted at once. Liliums de- 

 light in a rich, porous compost, two parts 

 good fibrous loam, one part peat or leaf- 

 mould, and om^ part coarse sand. The most 

 convenient way is to place two bulbs in 

 each t(Mi-iiirl! |)fit. Hio pot-, should be clean 

 and well cro( ki'd : ])Iace a layer of rotten 

 manure oviT tlie crocks, and fill the pots 

 with the ]n'C]>arod compost to two-thirds 

 their depth: tlu^ bulbs should l>e just buried 

 and th.e compost hv made firm. After the 



and it 



potting operation the pots' should be placed 

 in the vineries, or any cool house. The 

 bulbs soon become active, and, when well 

 rooted, the growths appear from the centre ; 

 as the stems advance they will produce roots 

 freely, above the bulbs, and when this occurs 

 the pots should be filled up with rich soil. 

 The most useful liliums for pots are : L. 

 longiflorum, L. Harrisi, L. speciosum album, 

 L. s, rubrum, and L. s. Melpomene ; Lilium 

 auratum is also very fine for pots, but it is 



not to be generally recommended, as the 

 odour is too strong for drawing-rooms etc. 



EOSES IN POTS.— The present is a good 

 time to overhaul the stock of pot roses. To 

 keep the stock up to date the best way is to 

 discard old, worn-out plants, and to fill 

 t he ir places with newer introductions . I 

 find it a good practice to add half a dozen 

 plants of a new variety, which, after a 

 reason's growth in the rose garden, has 

 proved itself. The plants should be lifted 

 at once, their roots trimmed with a sharp 

 knife, and potted in Sin. pots, using a rich 

 fibrous compost. The pots should then be 

 plunged. in a cold frame, with the lights re- 

 moved, except in extreme cold weather or 

 heavy rains; the roses will commence to 

 make fibrous roots in a very short time. By 

 February the plants will be ready for pot- 

 ting into loin, pots, and will take their 

 place to be pruned and treated with the older 

 plants, which will then need top-dressing. 

 Where large drawing-rooms, etc., have to be 

 furnished, the climbing varieties, such as 

 Dorothy Perkins, Hiawatha, Lady Gay, Ex- 

 celsa, Coquina, and Tau(sendschon, are de- 

 lightful subjects when grown to a height 

 of 6ft. or 8ft. These should also be lifted 

 as small plants, potted, and plunged in an 

 ash-bed, and grown for a season to encourage 

 them to make strong growth. Plants that 

 were treated in this way last year will need 

 top-dressing at once, as the ramblers com- 

 mence to grow much earlier than the others. 



FLOWEEING SHEUBS. — Batches of 

 these should be introduced to heat, 

 will be found, with the turn of the days, 

 they will re^spond readily to warmth. Azalea 

 indica and A. mollis, Prunus triloba. Spiraea 

 confusa and S. arguta. Viburnum opulus, 

 rhododendrons, Staphylea colchica, Deutzia 

 gracilis, lilacs Charle- X. and Marie Legraye, 

 should all play their part in the floral dis- 

 plays during the coming spring months.— 

 Lewis Smith, Cadland Gardens. 



HARDY FRUITS. 



COBDOX APPLES AND PEAES. 

 \A hether grown on walls or in open quarters, 

 pruning and other details are carried out 

 on much the same lines. Providing the trees 

 have received the necessary attention in the 

 way of pinching and late summer pruning, 

 there remains very little to be done so far 

 as the Ui^e of the knife is concerned, a 

 slight reduction of the remaining growth 

 ay be required, cutting them back to two 

 or three buds; many varieties both of apples 

 and pears naturally form a great number 

 of fruit buds in clusters. Where this oc- 

 curs it is advisable to remove a large por- 

 tion Q^i them. Two or three fruit buds on 

 a spur will invariably give better results 

 than if eight or ten fruit buds are allowed 

 to develop and ultimately flower in a dense 

 mass, for under such circumstances the pros- 

 pects of a good set are somewhat remote. 

 The leading growths on maidens, or older 

 trees where space permits of extension 

 should be shortened back according to the 

 strength of the growth and habit of the 

 particular variety. Some varieties form 

 fruit spurs freely, others do not, and in the 

 latter case it is necessary to cut back suffi- 

 ciently hard to insure the lower buds breaking 

 into growth and ultimatelv clothing the main 

 stem with fruit spurs. Over-luxuriance of 

 growtli can be checked by root-pruning and 

 the withholding of manures of a gross feed- 

 ing character. Trees which are in good order 

 and give promise of a good show of blossom 

 will receive material ibenefit from an applica- 

 tion of suitable artificial manures 



OECHAED TEEES.-Advantage .should be 

 taken to examine the trees in the orchard 



w 



when the iweather conditions will not alio 

 the continuance of operations on wall trees' 

 etc. In orchardsi where the trees are an- 

 nually attended to, the amount of prunin<r 

 required will be principally confined to thin*. 

 ning out superfluous growths arising from 

 the main branches, the removal of branches 

 w^hich are awkwardly placed or inclined to 

 grow crosswise, and the cutting out of all 

 damaged or dead shoots or branches. After 

 the removal of a large branch the cut should 

 be made smooth and clean with a sharp 

 knife. Should the trees have been neglected 

 it will be necessary to use drastic means and 

 boldly remove branches that interfere with 

 due admission of light and air to all part^ 

 of the tree. The loose bark on the main 

 branches and stem of the tree should be re- 

 moved. For this purpose a piece of hoop 

 iron or a small onion hand hoe will be found 

 serviceable. It is under the old loose bark 

 that insect pests find a refuge, and, unless 

 removed, it is a difficult matter to eradicate 

 them when spraying operations take place. 

 Cases of canker should be treated by remov- 

 ing the dead bark, and using a sharp knife, 

 so that a smooth, dean wound down to the 

 live portion may be left. 



THE MANUEING OF OECHAEDS is an 

 essential matter, and should on no account 

 be neglected, particularly in the case of old- 

 established trees on grass; a liberal applica- 

 tion of liquid manure, supplemented by arti- 

 ficials^ according to the nature and require- 

 ments of various kinds of soils, will have a 

 marked effect for good on the growth and 

 produce of the trees — Messenger, Wool- 

 vcrstone Park Gardens. 



THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



OEOPS 



-Durinof inclement weather 

 the root stores should be examined, as some 

 decay may have set in. This examination 

 will aerate the whole, and naturally prolongs 

 their keeping qualities. If this sort of work 

 was carried out more often at this season of 

 the year roots would keep sounder than is 

 usually the case. Onions, too, whether in 

 trays or ropes, should be looked over, and 

 those that show the least signs of growth 

 should be consumed first ; keep them dry and 

 cool. 



LEEKS that are still in trenches will need 

 protection should severe weather set in; use 

 a mulching of long stable litter, bracken, or 

 similar material. Celery should be treated 

 likewise, but in mild weather (even for a few 

 hours) it is better to draw the straw off. 



SEAKALE.— The crop retained for indoor 

 forcing can now be lifted during open 

 weather, the thongs trimmed off carefully^ 

 and the crowns laid in fine ashes or soil, 

 thickly, under a hedge or wall facing ii^^^^- 

 The crowns can then be transferred q^^^^v 

 to the forcing quarters as desired. Tl^^ 

 thongs can be made into sets during rougn 

 weather, tying them into bundles of fifto'? 

 and straightway placing them in boxes ot 

 soil; when finished place the boxes in a coW 

 house or frame, as this crop cannot be 

 started too early so long as no undue haete 

 is given the sets at this period. 



EHUBAEB can be taken up in plenty n 

 with safety. It will then be on ha 



nd 



for immediate transference to the forcinp 

 quarters, thus saving valuable time wuen 

 more pressing work is on hand ^^^^y ^ 

 year. Cover such crowns over w^ith old lea 

 soil till required. ^ 



SPINACH.— Up -till now the crop ot tni« 

 vegetable is in capital condition, the ope 

 weather having caused constant growtn 

 Give regular hoeings, with dustings of &oo^'^ 

 and keep any decayed leaves picked • 

 Should cold weather set in, particularly coiu, 



cutting winds, place boughs of yew oi'.^P^^^^g 

 hedge-like on tlie north and east sides, 

 this helps 'wonderfully to maintain growtn. 

 CABBAGE.— The early batches are looKii|g 



bourhood, and need 



well in thi*. 



a in 



and moulding up. This latter is very 

 cial, as it keeps the stems from swayin„ 

 the wind, beside making them frost-proor 

 George Ellwood, Swanmore Park t^arae 



