346 



THE 



GARDE NE RS MA G A ZINE 



Work for the Week 



COOL ORCHIDS. 



The species of oncidium suitable for cool treatment are mostly well worth the 

 attention of the orchid cultivator ; the chief cause of failure with these plants is 

 permitting the flower spikes to remain on the plants until all the flowers fade, a 

 pardonable mistake, perhaps, but one that is fraught with danger. Oncidium 

 Marshallianum, O. concolor, O. cucullatum, O. macranthum, and O. phalsenopsis 

 are making a nice show in the cool house at the present time, and when the large 

 branching spikes of Oncidium Marshallianum have fully opened their flowers it 

 is a wise plan to cut them off and place them in water, for if allowed to remain 

 on the specimen for any length of time, they will naturally exhaust the plant. 

 Oncidium cheirophorum, O.Forbesi, O. crispum, O. varicosuro, and its fine variety 

 Rogersi, with any others that are starting to grow, may now have new material 

 afforded them ; the usual peat and sphagnum compost cannot be beaten if placed 

 over good drainage; O. crispum and O. Forbesi require a few degrees more 

 warmth than the others, and may be usually afforded these at the warmest end 

 of the odontoglossum house. A very pretty orchid now in flower in the cool 

 house is Ada aurantiaca ; this, with its beautiful orange coloured flowers is very 

 effective when arranged with odontoglossums of the crispum section, as each shows 

 the other off to considerable advantage. As the plants pass out of bloom they 

 may be repotted in a compost of equal parts of peat and sphagnum moss. Pots 

 of a suitable size should be used, allowing plenty of drainage, so that the plants 

 may receive abundance of water during the summer months without the compost 

 becoming sour. The Ada thrives well in company with Odontoglossum crispum 

 during the summer months, but it requires a warmer temperature during winter, 

 for, if kept too cool, the leaves turn a sickly tint, and the under surface becomes 

 badly spotted. Less water will be needed during the winter months, but the soil 

 should never be allowed to become thoroughly dry. Epidendrum vitellinum is 

 another beautiful cool orchid in flower at the present time, and one that lasts a 

 long time in perfection. The plants when in full growth enjoy copious supplies of 

 water at the root until its growths are completed, but, during winter, should be 

 kept rather dry, or the leaves spot badly. 



No time should be lost in repotting any plants of Lycaste Skinneri and its variety 

 alba that have finished flowering, as they are now starting to grow freely. Well- 

 drained pots should be used, large enough for the development of two seasons' 

 growth, using a compost of fibrous peat and loam in equal parts, and a little 

 fresh sphagnum moss mixed with broken crocks and charcoal. Great care is 

 necessary in the watering of these newly-potted plants, for, if over-dosed with 

 water, the young growths are apt to rot off, and disease in the bulbs ensue ; even 

 when in full growth water should be carefully afforded them. The foliage of 

 these lycastes is frequently attacked by red spider, which must be kept in check 

 by an occasional sponging of the leaves with soft water, while slight sprayings over- 

 head on bright days will help to keep these pests in check. Green and black fly and 

 thrips sometimes put in an appearance, and an occasional fumigation will be 

 necessary to keep them down. Disas may now be placed in a cold fratue in a 

 cool and shady spot. The plants should be well syringed night and morning, 

 whenever the weather permits, and never be allowed to become dry at the roots. 

 The airing of the frame should be carefully attended to until the plants become 

 accustomed to their new abode, then, in warm, rainy weather, the lights may be 

 entirely removed. Carefully examine the plants occasionally for red spider and 

 aphis, which sometimes attacks them.— E. Shill, New Hall Hey Gardens. 



STOVE PLANTS. 



The gardenia is one of the most choice among stove-flowering plants, and 

 where flowers are required in quantity the season through, the most successful 

 method is to plant them out. In an old pocket book of mine I have noted the 

 daily cutting from a row of gardenias planted out in a three feet wide border, the 

 length of a forty feet house, at one establishment where I lived as journeyman. 

 We commenced cutting on February 22, and finished November 14, the total 

 being upwards of 3,000 blooms. As I never saw a more healthy hedge of 

 gardenias, or larger individual flowers, the best thing I can do is to detail the 

 treatment they received. The border was thoroughly drained, and as the house 

 had formerly been a pine stove, there was plenty of bottom heat, the gardenias 

 were given the front three feet of the bed. Over the drainage fibrous turves were 

 laid, grass side down, and over this to a depth of eighteen inches was placed a 

 compost of three parts rough fibrous loam, one part leaf-soil, and one part each of 

 lime rubble and charcoal. The gardenias were planted two feet apart, and in two 

 years, by means of stakes placed on either side, the row at two feet from the 

 centre was trained to form a hedge four feet through, and no pruning was neces- 

 sary after they had filled their allotted space, as all the flowers being cut with long 



stems nrpvpnteW f K a l: * , ... 0 .. , . 0 — , •* 



Stimulants were afforded 

 and soot water. 



fertilisers 



, - . 1 " n ..u unumv n««.i, auu jwi mu«, Mealy 



bug was kept thoroughly under by syringing the plants every Friday evening with 

 paraffin and soapy water. No shading was given even during the hottest weather, 

 but air was freely admitted during the middle of hot days ; three syringings were 

 given daily, at six a.m., closing time (half-past two), and again at five p.m., while 

 ir.e duty man had lo thoroughly damp the house at nine p.m. The flowers were 

 cut every morning before breakfast, and placed in water in a cool fruit-room. In 

 places where pot culture has to be relied upon, as the plants go out of flower, 

 gradually harden them off until they will stand in a cold frame, giving very little 

 water. After standing here two or three weeks cut them well back, and remove 

 tnem to a warm house where a humid atmosphere is maintained, and where they 

 will soon push into growth ; any requiring it can then be repotted. 

 t; n a P • ? c ' erodei »dron Balfouri come into flower, syringing must be discon- 

 ™« U ;?- J m r L y would "moved to the conservatory, and stood in a 



"n cold draughts. Allamandas on balloon trellises, that are 



£K« v and haVe had their shoots trained U P strin g s » shoul <* now be 

 dant to ffromT^ k Pr r eDt th 3 sn *PP»ng of shoots during the operation allow the 

 SamoLn,^ a d T ?* then the shoots wi » be found more pliable. Taber- 



arion - Sn^ nfi " SWC u etly scented > and so it is worthy of extended culti- 

 l^n\£ t ^^S K J^«.^«^ *"»*Y soilby plungingthe 

 catin<r cases chLu i k t ma . m tainmg a moist heat around them. Propa- 

 Sff^^^jS £ *> *£ those cuttings requiring^ 



moist atmosohere. PiT„ ,? "/ £££ ke P separate from _ those requiring a close 



T j xianis 01 Hibiscus, that are c 



abundance of water with stimulants ScSSoSfc 

 these, and must h» ir**** under L - e W1U . 1V 



As Fransisceas 



may be done when ornwtK ^ SUght P™ 11 ^ and any repotting necessary 



the y «H,»rSr£^of1S«^ ag ^K ; these P lants like Plenty o 8 f water 2 

 put in a latch of cuttiLf of FitTol 8 ,r rh ^ d ' ™ e P r 5, sent is a good time to 



gs 01 rmon,a argyroneura and F. Pearcei, the plants to be 



Less fire heat will be necessary to keen n nthO£ le ^y es bave a very nir* 

 if the houses are shut up carl/in tfc?& H^^^f^^ ^ _ 



Examine the plants before closing the housed ™'o see ?h£ ^ ^ th <»22 



the want of water. A young man, whose heart is in v n ° n f arc Serine b^! 



among his charges are likely to require water more WOrk « wil1 W»J2 



the necessary attention. Afford stimulants to Urr Ji? 0DCe a *nd»iJ!£ 

 leaves begin to show signs of ripening, SSfe^S*^ 



water given. Use the svrinpe fr^u? ~n L r j ht d sto PPed, and leg 



o — * — r — - 1 1 



Tunnington, Ripley Castle Gardens. 



floors 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Pg to promote 

 visited us at, u • 



having fallen in this neighbourhohd about one and aWfK^f dcf * h > 



Asparagus has consequently been n1#>nt;f«i u... A , . m the course . 



week. 



^opi scna 



"5 ^ »i uncial manure 

 'ome exhausted. I t u 



than in th* 



the 1 



dormant. Broad beans will now be in flower ana 

 signs of aphis, the plants should be stopped and the S £r£J 

 destroyed. The fly can only subsist on the young growths Zlf "VZ* 

 be removed there is no fear of injury. Owine to the ^ ' * *«* 



the 



T , - "J "Tf " rT 9 * us * u ^ cs pmcning sriould be done a lir 



than usual, to enable the plants to retain their perpendicular position a, 

 sowing may be made for a late crop, and the situation chosen ought to be^ 

 one, as late sown beans especially on light dry soils, are most difficult SitUt 



hot seasons. French and runner hponc cVi^,,li -1— . 1 w b 101 * £ 



irder 

 Another 



ror succession, cbooi. 

 blown about by roogh 

 the early ones recriftd 



toward the end of March and early in April, the season has been fa £5 

 the growth of the pea crop which as a rule looks well. Where there are i2 

 of any blanks through the plants not making the progress anticipated, rn£ 



small sowing of an early kind to fill up the gaps. Pay special care to the stakS 

 of those already far enough advanced, and where the plants are too thickthev 

 should be thinned to allow the others more room. Successive sowings shouldhe 

 made of some good late varieties, such as Autocrat, Late Queen, and Michaelmas 

 any of which will be sure to give satisfaction. " w 



The planting of such things as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, borecole, aod 

 broccoli, will now be general, and should be pushed forward whenever the weather 

 is favourable. Lettuce from the early sowings will now be in use ; to maintain a 

 constant supply of fine tender hearts, the plants must be put out when snail, 

 allowing ample room for them to develop. Tomato plants that have been brought 

 forward under glass may now be planted out in warm situations, but in cold 



districts, and where the soil is heavy, it is seldom they pay for the trouble, as the 

 frost cuts them down before the fruit is ripe. Where frames or pits that have heen 

 occupied with potatos or French beans can be utilised, these will be found useful 

 for growing tomatos in, as the growths can be trained close to the glass, and in this 

 way far more fruit can be gathered from a dozen plants than from the double numbei 

 grown in the open, unless the weather should be exceptionally favourable to them. 

 When planted on stiff soil, a quanity of light material should be worked in to keep 

 it open, so that water may pass through freely ; for too soppy a growth is not 

 conducive to a free set of fruit. Capsicums and chilies may now be planted on a 

 warm border or in a sheltered situation. The ground on which these are intended 

 to be grown cannot be too rich, for the freer the growth the better the results. 

 They should be planted in rows, and about a foot or fifteen inches apart each way 

 In cold districts it is better to grow them in pots and place them where protection 

 can be afforded by means of spare lights, when the weather is unfavourable. Both 

 chicory and dandelion may now be sown to produce roots for lifting in the winter. 

 The former on good ground will require thinning to a distance of a foot apart in 

 the rows, while nine inches should be allowed to the latter. Many herbs are 

 required for winter use, therefore it is well to make special preparations at this 

 time of the year. If the young shoots of mint be taken off and rooted in pans or 

 boxes, they will be found far more serviceable than roots lifted from the op* 

 ground and potted up as wanted. It is a good plan to have the boxes six inches 

 deep and about a foot wide, and of a convenient length to admit of being easily 

 carried about. Cuttings root more freely in a cold frame where shade can be 

 afforded them, after which they should be exposed to the full sunlight. Tampn, 

 thyme, and other herbs may be rooted in the same way. Make small wwm &£ 

 radishes, mustard and cress, and chervil, to keep up a constant supply. W 



former will do better if sown on a north border.— H. C. Prinsrp, BuxM tm 

 Gardens. 



FRUITS UNDER GLASS. 



Early peaches will now be ripe, and require careful attention as to gatbcr«| 

 if they are to be placed before the consumer in the best possible condition. i« 



carefully 



under the trees 

 jn to the injury 

 is the fact that a dropped ft*** 

 piquancy, and there is no i*m» 

 ay is to examine the "f^JJ 

 refully all fruits that 

 Ided boxes, which 



removed co a dry and cool fruit-room, me truits of some vanet, *f. ^m* 



readily from the tree, even when ripe, and for these it is "^J^ " heri — or » 



pad of cotton wool to prevent actual contact with the hand when gai JTZ&n, 

 carefully snip through the stem of each fruit with a thin and starp P*V fc . 



holding a pad of the wool in the other hand to receive the tnau i -| 

 necessary to pack for sending away this should be done as the iruu ^g-^^ 

 so save one handling. Single layers of fruit in shallow boxes is in . 

 of packing, and the boxes should be carefully lined up with wood .* - ^ ^ 

 moss to a point which will only just allow for the depth ot - '„^aa$ ** 



layer of cotton wool over all. Squares of tissue paper snottlODe ^ c^ito* 



each fruit placed in one of these, so that the base of the f™\"*"P tbeo tk 

 the paper, the sides being drawn up round but not twisted m an ^ 



eas 



betweer. 



ly seen ana removeu u, an£r [ e , 

 the fruits. Small pads of wood wool or moss placed in v M an^ ^ ^ m 

 fruits as the work of packing proceeds will prevent rubbinj,, 

 needed, provided the bottom of the box has been properly »— 

 boxes instead of nailing down the lids. 



Coru 



