JULY 30, 1898. 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



495 



nrivate gardens and shrubberies, is about one hundred acres in extent, and, 

 fifZ hothouses for market produce, is under the management of Mr. T G. 

 SLftoKS I am indebted for a great deal of information — — 



S are under flowers, and thirty acres under potatos T 



^Srahlv cultivated on Mr. Dorrien-Smith's farm, as the bulbs are not allowed 



•"""Tf f.„n nr thrPP years, heavilv-manured DOtatos beinc grown as 



am uiuuuLwu « About 



Brown, to wnorn ^ o ^^""^^ t h^ y ~ a ^~ fc S^d e r potatos. The narcissus is WARM ORCHIDS. 



SSrab y cultivated on Mr. Dorrien-Smith's farm, as the bulbs are not allowed Jattleya Bowringiaxa, one of the most useful cattleyas we have, flowering as it 



£££ more than two or three years, heavily-manured potatos being grown as does at a time when orchid flowers are scarce, will now be growing vSoSfy 



an Ttervening crop, while the flower-beds are carefully weeded during the the r^s will be fairly at work, therefore copious waterings will 



an . , e *a. Thp *vf>r*<jp we \vht of flnwprc exnorted bv Mr. Dorrien- although not sufficient to can** tK« c~;i ^ u~ 2li**^l r ... uc ^uirca, 



Work for the Week 



Sriod \f growth. The average weight of flowers exported by 

 Smith from 1894 to 1897 was 37^ tons per annum. - . 



It remains to present a few illustrations of the fall in the prices of flowers 

 more precise than those which are based on ofT-hand statements. Accounts are 

 > strictly kept at Tresco that the average price of each description of narcissus 

 in each season is shown for years past. In the first place it is to be observed that 

 no variety had been sold from Tresco up to the middle of March this season at less 

 than is. 6d. per dozen bunches, while 4s. had been made of Emperor, and 5s. to 

 cs. 6d. of the earliest Ornatus. The records show that while the comparatively new 

 varieties have fallen greatly in price, the old kinds, and especially the polyanthus 

 varieties, have suffered much less depreciation. Scilly White, indeed, seems to 

 have kept up its price well, as its averages for the eight years, 1890-97, were 

 respectively, per single bunch, in pennies and fractions, 1 '44, 1 '57, I '6o, 1 '29, 

 I'Pt 1 "85, 0*97, and 1.51. Here we find the highest average for 1895, while 

 even in 1897, notably a year of extremely low prices for narcissi generally, the 

 average was 1*5 id. per bunch, against i°44d. for 1890. Grand Monarque fell 

 from 3-44d per bunch in 1890 to 2d. in 1897, and Soleil d'Or from 2'i8d. to 

 i # 57d., while the old double daffodil was 3'ggd per bunch in 1890, 2'6d. in the 

 following year, r8d. in 1895, an< 3 i77d. in 1897. Taking the case of the giant 

 of the daffodil division among varieties at all extensively grown at present, the 

 splendid Emperor, there is a great drop to be noticed, as its average was 5'88d. 

 per bunch in 1890 and 6*54 in 1891, as compared with 2*52d. in 1895 and 2*22d. 

 in 1897. Ornatus, again, a great favourite, and now very extensively cultivated 

 on the mainland, has lost heavily in value, at least so far as Scilly growers are 

 concerned. When it comes into flower with them abundant supplies of other 

 varieties from the mainland are in the markets, so that it does not fully share 

 the advantage which gives a temporary monopoly to Scilly for earlier varieties 

 of open-air narcissi. It is to be observed that these are the average prices of 

 open air flowers only, those of forced flowers, of course, being higher. 



Mr. Brown is of opinion that the polyanthus varieties will be the mainstay of 

 Scilly growers, because, he say s, these varieties do not flourish on the mainland 

 or in the Channel Islands. Mr. Martin John Sutton informs me, however, that 

 they are produced to a considerable extent in the Channel Islands ; but, while 

 they are also grown to a limited extent on the mainland of England, I have not 

 seen or heard of their cultivation for market anywhere but in Cornwall, and it 

 appears that, although they can be grown elsewhere, the bulbs do not increase, so 

 that it would not be profitable to grow them on a large scale for market. 



In spite of the keen and growing competition in the production of the narcissi, 

 it appears to me that the Scilly growers, if they make the most of their oppor- 

 tunities, instead of relying too much, as some of them do, upon their natural 

 ^antages, will be able to hold their own 5 and although they may find that 

 he r profits in the future will be smaller than those of the past, there seems to 



no cknger of flower-growing in the climate-favoured little islands ceasing to be 

 winy remunerative. & 



re J u ,5 .k 6 g ? W " ,rUUS T S ? 1Iin S in the sh °P s and markets, 



Ron t of T?l iFY 5 15 a g °°u d P?f and shou,d satisf V growers £ 

 ■Sed I iSi*™? W , hCn 'V 5 ^membered how many thousands of persons 



fetSd t thS TLT at ?l Under gk,S ; and Wh - at eXtensive ran S es ° f hoJses are 

 ...^,. t0 ™' ma ? 1 not be a matter for surprise that fruits should v*t <n 



fiSffLSJedSf W , 5 ^>»% of the undpVpai; 7 red 

 5 I n? tfr ° m 3d- to 5 d. per lb. , and no doubt great quantities 



" ? »ppl£ m rS?S? S 1° Sh ° W that - h ru 6 in the Production of 



i" Ins?o^»Dm£lS , MP Pf* w,th the demand, and probably always 

 -V- ? ^probable that every home-grower will be ahle tn 



i n>atol^e poor7ub^; ii ;« V '^T 1 l " Cy °° at prCSent ' tnat although imported 



W» these U p P to a £n e £d Z *?™W ov,n one ?> J et million mult be content 

 f— , r " a Iaie period in the year or go without. 



n said, that we ■JjZ T *Y «"»wut. When it is said, as is so 



grown 'a home j l Z?7 ^S^^J ^ V^Auct tha * should 



• to overlooMhe LStrTlaZZ '?^ I"* non P' a ctical critics are 



«ons when we are unable rtS, °- *** produce comes to us in 



>n return hXtwenS Jn P ? T° a ° f ° UI f ° rei S n trade » reciprocal, 

 productions o ml2 t ! ° DS thuS SpeD > P robabl y twent y millions of 

 *«ily desire tc ^ see a ^LTreater n ^ /ll the same we do most 



r^\f^jrTD ,ruit and vegetables ^ roduced at 



i that i 



I own 



than 



k Rich 



5 old Souvenir de la iESSS^^ SOme ver y fine Wooms 



If the latter has *beS ' r dy but ancient Genera l Jacque- 



so for more ^ telf a-S ^ the f ° rmer 



gjrful advance has been m S ^ ^ th 1 erefore ' Jt is remembered what a 

 ^ it does inH^.^ e ^ « ™ development during the intervening 



.!^ kab, ^ that such .^ent varieties should still bi 



the roots will hm te^rSZZl^Z*"?™ 9 W1 V uuw x e rowin g vigorously and 

 ^nTnnT aT- >: Y 1 WOrkj therefore copious waterings will be required, 

 go bfi and tifrirT n * ^ f U ° become so ^en, for ifthis occurs th2 bulb 

 11 Si i if gradually works its way through the rhizome ; plenty of fresh 



owenng season. Th is is an invaluable species where large quantities of cut 



WenXndl T? 1 £ ? alS ° Va,Uable to thc hybridiser. C. Mantin and C 

 ZTo^ln^ ^ ^ reSU,tS of ^"disation from the above, are fine orchids 



In 11 u gr0WD ? mry choice col,ection ' Some P ,a nts of C. labiata 

 au tumnahs will have made up their growths and formed flower sheaths ; such must 



die offTtil 7h £? C I**' T m . USt water be S iven to ex <*ss, or the spikes will 

 " V sheath ; those that have not completed growth must have more 



water and be kept at the warm end of the cattleya house. Cattleya Warned, after 

 flowering and a rest, will be commencing to make new roots ; this cattleya grows 

 very satisfactorily if suspended from the roof in the cattleya house either in pans or 

 oaskets. it the compost is in any way sour fresh material must be afforded at the 

 present time to give the new roots the full benefit of it, and enable them to 

 become fairly .established before the end of the year ; the plants, however, require 

 to be treated individually as such a quantity of cattleyas of different kinds have 

 been imported of late years that it is rather difficult to mention any proper or 

 exact time for certain work to be done until such have become acclimatized. 



Oncidium Lanceanum is a very beautiful orchid which flowers about this time 

 ot the year, but like many other favourites its life is comparatively short, although 



P S° PC ^ L-? re a S d attention can ^stowed upon it we may expect it to last a 

 good while. Spot is a very great enemy to this charming orchid. The 

 hottest part of the stove is the best place to grow this species, plenty of sun being 

 allowed and the syringe used freely while the plant is growing ; oblong rafts well 

 crooked and filled with rough fibrous peat and a little moss, the plants being firmly 

 wired down to it, and suspended from the roof, afford conditions that answer well. 

 Oncidium Jonesianum is also another very difficult subject to grow satisfactorily, 

 hence its scarceness, though so many have been imported ; this also requires hot 

 treatment and to be fastened with copper wires to pieces of cork bark and hung 

 close to the roof. Ccelogyne pandurata must also be classed as another bad 

 grower. It flourishes for a time, except in very few cases ; curiously enough it is 

 sometimes met with growing well in the hands of someone who does not profess to 

 be an orchid grower. This species also requires hot treatment and a shady 

 position, but no water from the syringe must come into contact with the foliage. 



Calanthes of the deciduous section will be growing strong, consequently a 

 little stimulant gradually increased in strength as the bulbs develop will prove very 

 beneficial, and encourage strong sturdy spikes. C. veratrifolia, of the evergreen 

 section, may require repotting after flowering ; this may be done now, in a compost 

 consisting of substantial loam, leaf mould, peat, and a little silver sand, then place 

 it at the warm end of the cattleya house, very little water being afforded until root 

 action is fairly active. Dendrobium Deari will at the present time be flowering in 

 many collections ; the syringe must be used freely to keep down thrips, &c. ; brown, 

 hard scale is a great pest, as it lodges in the axils of the leaves ; mealy-bug also 

 attacks the young, tender leaves, so the sponge and brush must be used often and 

 carefully. Yandas, saccolabiums, and aerides must not become dry at the roots, 

 and the latter must be protected from attacks of beetles, &c— T. Stafford, 

 Tyntes field Gardens. 



CONSERVATORY AND GREENHOUSE. 



The work connected with the different kinds of winter-flowering plants will 

 increase each week, as potting, staking, and stopping the shoots that require it 

 are details that should receive attention at the proper season. Cinerarias and 

 primulas may be classed together, as the same treatment and soil practically suits 

 both. It must now be decided what season these plants are likely to prove most 

 useful for home decoration ; if to flower before Christmas the final potting may 

 now be given which will allow of the pots becoming filled with roots by the end 

 of summei, and so induce early flowering. For general purposes five-inch pots 

 are the most convenient for filling vases, &c, in dwelling rooms, a point that is 

 never overlooked by those who have much decoration to see to, and though plants 

 are often turned out of their pots to be used for different receptacles, there is a 

 danger of giving the plants a check which, together with the dry atmosphere of 

 the rooms, tends to shorten their beauty and life. Younger stock of primulas and 

 cinerarias must be potted on as the roots require more room ; use compost of a 

 rich porous nature, and be sure the pots are well-drained. As the bed of ashes 

 in the cold frames is kept constantly moist by syringing between the pots, there is 

 always the danger of such a condition inducing the visits of slugs, which will make 

 the young tender leaves their feeding ground if measures are not taken to prevent 

 them. Soot or lime dusted round the sides of the frames will ward them off. 

 To keep the plants growing strong, and to secure large clean foliage, moisture at 

 the roots and in the atmosphere is imperative. The lights may be well tilted at 

 the highest point during the day, and well shaded where not facing the north ; but 

 we find it a good plan to remove them in the evening as the plants never make 

 more rapid progress than when the foliage is found beaded with dew in the morn- 

 ing. Bouvardias will now be growing freely, whether planted in the open, in 



*«i goou enoueh t h — «-%»^ u**v buvu aucienc variety — 



«h century. Cofatem£ «n £ 0od co,lection s at the cltec of fhTriuZ f ram es7 or 'tr elted ^ potptair When it is seen that a few shoots are taking the 



2? was the crimson oSSV 1 » tW °, varieties in the middle of the lead the points should be pinched out, so as to make all growths equal. 



e, y globular pi nk Conner k Batta i les » U } e huge Baronne Prevost, that Undoubtedly, those planted out make stronger growth than when the roots are 



J> n ? scarceely now SiS. v'u^ a few ot ^ ers wI «ch I have forgotten, restricted in pots, still fine plants may be so raised under careful treatment. A 



de la Malmaison U »2 W,th the exception of the two first named lack of water at the roots, or when water is given too freely, often causes the plants 



* * — ■ u ,a vpr fTT ""'" 1 1 tQ Jook sickl ^ bouvardias are rather delicate rooted plants ; when well-estab- 



i • m * « i .tl* Ir- KiiinrT man** fr*»*» 1 \r rrpn^rAnc trootmDnt ic nflrp;co rr 



m Bourbon section of rose" now \T Y * a 2 ainst u walls. We have so few of 

 rve , } Ir - F. Cant men inn, u ■ ° commetce that this old variety, which I 

 £ Jacquemino ^ ? Ut in is wel1 wortn^erv'ng 

 of the famouTASjS? & yea " ' ater ' the - same *« that saw the if- 



ill 



best 



;t ag 



n ic .1 i i ncnesc crimsons, and 



firl Jf ry la . r g f eI y gr°wn for market purposes, as 

 nrst-rate variety for bunchina ri~f E ~r r ~iA 



i »' **™ fivers S£ diSaPPC f r6d f T ^ral ^tado^a " 



« fc t0 ° the r £ of more Sent P T l " r ^ e durin g th * "fries, has had 

 "ju^an was the nr<»r^' " ln txoduction. *r—>— — . ' 



^""ost ^G5^2S^LE2!L^ CO " merce in 1844. That is still 



general cultivation, and 

 Niphetos was less known in 7 he 



naiicvi »~ - „ necessary, 



such as frequent watering with weak soot water or liquid manure, together with 



copious syringing after a hot day* # 



Zonal pelargoniums are most useful for giving a bright display during the dull 

 months, but require special treatment to induce them to flower freely at that 

 season/ I recommended in the spring that a suitable number of cuttings be rooted 

 in smail pots. These will now be sturdy plants and ready for placing in their 

 flowering pots ; fairly good loam, with a little leaf mould, forms a good staple, 

 and bv the addition of a few crushed bones placed over the crocks, and a sprink- 



3 , , . .1 oil that ic nooArco..*, f nA ~C «Ull 



W ^CT a ^^ tew. What a most fiB^fi? 



decades of ,2? L ^ W tf d f mcl *&\ three varieties%ent out 



years r V 1 a stri Wi« ffi JfS That ?T ld be ei S hteen tre bles, and 

 >cars — A. D. " g rashlon th e progress of the rose*or a nprinrf „f 



arrange 



few days ; when they have got over the check of potting select a sunny spot, and 

 plunge the pots about one quarter their depth in fine ashes, allowing plenty of 

 room. Treated in this way they will make grand stuff by September, when on 

 being removed to the greenhouse, and given weak liquid manure, they will com- 

 mence to flower. With Arum lilies growers differ as to their summer treatment, 



