47» 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE 



Work for the Week 



sown 



gradual! 



COOL ORCHIDS. 



Oncidium thai enopsis, O. cucullatum, O. nubigenum, O. cristatum, O. 

 dasytyle, and O. concolor will now require a little fresh material about their roots, 

 the usual peat and sphagnum compost sufficing over good drainage. The first 

 three species are best grown in pots stood upon a stage in the most shady posi- 

 tion, while the others grow much better in pans or baskets suspended close up to 

 the roof glass. O. metallicum should also have a little fresh material, as it will 



hope 



appear 



The 



afterwards. 



*y when planted 



fancies of tfa* 



the Telegraph section are the besc. Preparation^ to* <* 



of mint and tarragon for forcing. Cuttings of these ' e for a «ock 



should afterwards be stood in a cold frame and shaded^^e^u? Whkk 

 formed, after which they may be exposed. Plants so raised mav s^nS T* *** 

 until reouired for Dlacincr m the fnrri«^_i * .7. , P a y stand mthe boxes 



t0 $ ve * neater 



ground 



soon 



seldom been 



appearance 



and should be trained round some neat stakes or on a wire just below the roof. the custom with some to cut down the old flower stalk 



All these plants will need a plentiful supply of water during their season of growth. 

 Any plants of Maxillaria Sanderiana or M. Turneri that require repotting or re- 

 surfacing should now be attended to, using a compost of three parts sphagnum to 



one of peat ; the former species is best grown in teak wood baskets, using no 

 crocks for drainage, as it frequently thrusts its flower spikes through the soil in a 

 downward direction. M. Turneri will grow well in an ordinary flower pot or 

 pan three parts filled with drainage, and should be potted firmly. Care should be 

 taken in the watering of the newly- potted plants, giving only sufficient to keep 

 the moss alive until the new roots obtain a good hold of the compost. One of the 

 best- known species of maxillarias is M. tenuifolia, which first flowered in this 

 country as long ago as 1839 ; it may be grown successfully if fixed to pieces of tree 

 fern and stood in an upright position in a flower pot ; the plants will need a liberal 

 supply of water during the growing season. 



The sweet-scented Cattleya citrinais totally unlike any other species of cattleya 

 in growth and habit, the pseudo-bulbs, foliage, and flowers always drooping 

 towards the ground. Unfortunately, it is a species that deteriorates after a few 

 years' existence in our glasshouses, although some growers manage to keep it in a 

 good condition for a longer time than others. The best method to grow these 

 plants is on blocks of wood or teakwood rafts, with a little sphagnum moss pricked 

 in about the roots to help hold the moisture ; the cool house will be found the 

 most suitable place for the specimens, suspending them close up to the roof glass 

 in a light position. After a good rest, following flowering, root-action and new 

 growth are now commencing, therefore a more liberal supply of water will be 

 needed, the block and plant being frequently immersed in the water-tank, and, if 

 the weather is very dry and hot, this should be done every evening. Disa grand i- 

 flora has its flower-spikes now well advanced, and, as these are liable to be infested 

 with green-fly, steps must be taken to destroy the aphis as soon as they are detected 

 by means of the brush and sponge, afterwards syringing the plants with soft water 

 till quite clean, otherwise much harm will be done. Water must still be freely 

 given till the plants pass out of flower, when the quantity must be gradually 

 reduced.— E. Shill, New Hall Hey Gardens. 



STOVE PLANTS. 



The present is a suitable time for inserting cuttings of ixoras and gardenias ; 

 choose moderately firm short-jointed shoots and insert singly into two and a half- 

 inch pots, and place where they will have the assistance of a bottom heat of 

 about 80 degrees ; keep the soil uniformly moist with plenty of moisture in the 

 atmosphere, and they will soon form roots ; after rooting, stand in the body of the 

 house for a week or so, when they may be put into five-inch pots. Before insert- 

 ing the cuttings examine them carefully to see they are perfectly free from insect 

 pests. Late-struck plants of justicias in three-inch pots should be transferred to 

 others six-inch m diameter ; keep close until they have established themselves in 

 their pots, when they may be grown cool ; treat liberally, and encourage them to 

 form huge heads of tlower. Plants of Clerodendron Balfourianum, as they go 

 out of tlower, should have the old flower trusses removed and receive any pruning 

 necessary, and be afterwards encouraged to make a free growth, as next season's 

 supply of flowers depends upon the growth made this year and on having this 

 well ripened. Tram the shoots up strings, and keep them from interlacing ; feed 

 the plants liberally. Any requiring larger pots may be repotted when the new 

 growths have made about three inches of growth. Pot on young plants of crotons, 

 acalypha, dracxnas, and other things. Shift any it is desired to grow to a 

 large size before the roots become too matted in the pots ; this is the main secret 

 m growing plants to a large size in a short time. The winter- flowering begonias 

 are growing freely ; they should receive liberal treatment, shade from strong sun- 

 light, and afford abundance of air both day and night ; by this treatment they will 

 be tound to gl ve better returns than under a more coddling system of growth. Well- 

 npened snoots of Cissus discolor may now be propagated; cut the shoots into 

 lengths consisting of two joints ; do not keep the cuttings too close, or damping 

 may occur. Ferns will require abundance of water, and must on no account be 

 allowed to suffer for the want of it, else the beauty of the plants will be soon marred ; 

 snould green fly make its appearance amongst them, fumigate lightly two or three 

 nights in succession with X L All fumigating compounds. With all fumigating com- 

 pounds little and often is better than one strong dose, which is liable to injure the 

 plants besides destroying the insect pests. Be careful in watering all basket plants 

 that the whole body of the soil is thoroughly moistened ; failure with these can 

 often be traced to lack of the above precaution. 



™ HX L^r-I?, JSl _ St0 T e sl ! ould be periodically rearranged, some grow 



asadvivH 



some time to come It 

 cardoons. TW ^ b . lanch leaf steai 



pea ranee 

 reason t 



parts 



Nor is this 



again 



jggrjTffi has T a ,t end .ency to make the house monotonous to those 



pass 



may 



Ladies have a happy habit of changing the app< 

 ig-room by altering the position of the furniture 



ilteri 



pleted their growth 



gard 



occasion 



Do not withhold 



«anV w!™ S "ft th if n d ° W *ge * con- 



thoroughly clean Whe 1 P , hkc human be,n & s ' thnve tetter when 

 be careful not to them ng l **?t S ?f anthuriums, eucharis, &c, 



.1^1 10 kJ„?u ' M leaves with a broken ^rib have a rather un- 



vine? 11 **! mo ? ph * lt of the bouse thoroughly moist, with a 



ppearance 



warmth 



Al „ KITCHEN GARDEN. 



alt Hour. 11 cucumbers are nrr 



warm weather, still in most rf!? "^r . demand . du »ng the winter as during 



inosi places a few arc renmre<l an,l to 



— ~£ — ™, V • ; * ' UL wmie tnere are so manv choir*- v ^ \r 



to select from we scarcely think there is necessity for this. Pe^ fiSffft 

 sowing will now require staking, and they should not by any means KilecS 

 in the way of watering, for if mildew once shows itself there is linlJ? d , 

 getting a full crop. French beans for late use should now be sown in * rnlJ \ £ 

 but the lights should not be put on until there is dang? of frost Th, *?* 

 ought to be allowed ample space or they will not fruit satisfactorily dSTB 

 weather later on. Some seasons the autumns are mild, and beans may be JheS 

 from the open ground till quite late in the autumn, but this is not always the ci? 

 therefore preparations should be made accordingly. Mushrooms may n ow5 

 gathered from beds in the open, and a supply from these may be continued till la£ 

 in the season if care be taken to have beds made so as to follow each other in 

 succession, but to obtain the finest results there must be no neglect in the wav of 

 keeping the beds dry till wanted. Onions intended for exhibition will reauire 

 frequent watering during dry weather, and should there be any signs of mildew 

 dust the plants when damp with newly slacked lime, as it is of the utmost importance 

 that the foliage be kept clean. Attend to the watering of all newly planted seeds, 

 not simply sprinkling the surface, but give it in sufficient quantity to thoroughly 

 moisten the ground. Asparagus beds will be greatly benefited now by an applica 

 tion of liquid manure to assist them in completing their growth, or failing this, a 

 liberal dressing of artificial manure. The same remarks apply to such plants as 

 celery, cauliflowers, French beans, &c— H. C. Prinsep, Buxted Park Gardens, 



FRUITS UNDER GLASS. 



Orchard-house pot trees should be repotted, if thought necessary, as soon as 

 they are cleared of fruit ; but frequent pottings of these trees is a mistake, as they 

 will continue to produce good fruits for several years in the same pots, provided 

 they are supplied with a good staple to begin with and have had the usual routine 

 of rich top dressings and liquid manure to assist in promoting fat fruit buds and 

 good foliage ; still, a time comes when potting must De done, and, as is the cue 

 with planting outdoor trees, it is best to repot early enough to enable the roots to 

 penetrate the new soil before winter sets in. Small shifts are the best, and the 

 drainage must be carefully arranged so that it does its work well without being 

 too ample, or taking up too much valuable space. The soil used should be the 

 turfy layer from heavy pasture land, and should be in a semi-decayed state, so that 

 it may be pulled to pieces without much assistance from the chopper. About one 

 sixth of lime rubble will provide for sufficient lime, and will at the same time keep 

 the soil sufficiently open ; in addition to this, a slight sprinkling of bone meal will 

 add a necessary food element. Pot firmly, and allow no crevices between the 

 layers of soil, also see that the ball of soil is kept at the right height so that there 

 will be room left for watering ; and, on the other hand, see that the collar of the 

 tree is not too deeply buried. Where the original soil is at all sour or stagnant, it 

 will be necessary to remove some of it from around the ball, but not to the 

 extent of damaging living roots ; in other cases, with plenty of living roots 

 throughout the ball, no disturbance should take place, simply keeping w 

 balls of soil intact. After potting, keep the trees under g\m 

 for a few days, or until flagging ceases, reducing the ventilation slightly ano 

 syringing freely two or three times a day, but giving no water to the roots fori 

 time. When the trees will bear it, these and all! others cleared of fruits. Due w* 

 repotted, should be stood outside in a sunny spot, the pots surround*., 

 covered with a mulching of litter, and here they may remain to perfect andn 

 their growth, all the further attention they will require being to keep the roou 

 good condition as to watering, and syringing the trees thoroughly daily. 



Young pot vines which have been grown on for early supplies next J"* . 

 also be well suited from now onward with a position outside ; but in tneir 

 will be necessary to afford all possible ripening influences by lasten lng 

 securely to a sunny wall where they may also enjoy sufficient shelter to y 

 the main leaves intact as long as possible. Various pests, m addition to mc 

 ■ ' ' - troublesome. Wasps as yet arc £ 



• « ■ 



nary run of injurious insects, will soon be troublesome. Wasps as ye 

 much in evidence, but it is well to be on the alert for them, and 1 nr. i tj 

 for use indoors so satisfactory as Davis's or Scott's Wasp Destroyer, either ^ 

 are quite effective. Muddling up the ventilators with hexagon ne 

 enclosing bunches of grapes, &c, in muslin bags, are clumsy » na Kor 



good preventives as those named above. 

 : of potassium, poured on pieces of 1 in en 



aihft 



destruction of the nests cyanide of potassium, poured on pieces u» • 

 pushed well into the nests (being careful to push them out of signtanu 



the cyanide is a deadly poison), is most effective and less trouble r than ^ 



material used for the purpose. Field mice and the short-tailed mw ™ {oa \ 



purpo 

 fruits 



length 



taste awaits them, but they may be trapped by patting 

 draining m*. nn the surface in their runs or in other y ■ 



the 



mquisitiveness or something else tempts tnem tnrougu u«. 

 which they would avoid but for the tiles leading up to them 



ie rues -r _,, r - r in «hk 



year, but may be circumvented by P^H^J^m ■* 

 m has mixed, down the runs, repeating ^ "J^^ sbooW 



mquisitiveness or something else tempis mem i U iv^ 6 _ Anf , ^ 



t 

 u 



intervals until they~ are~ stoppedV Weevils attacking vines 

 sought for at night after having spread large sheets of white pape d ^ , 

 during the day. Go to the house after dark with a lanwrn, * h » cD whic h 1 

 dark until the trees are reached, and then turned folly on to »\ e ^ 

 been the points of attack. The weevils will fell and he s til ^tor ^ tnes 

 be easily secured. Paper is better than sheeting for putting ™ ^ Livt i 

 the insects can be heard when they drop on it. —J. 

 Park Gardens. 



<?. What is the only canine horticultural equivalent to the dog-ro*? 

 colley-tlower !— Punch. 



> 



