528 



GA RDENERS* MA GA ZINE. 



Attoust 13, l8o8 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



WARM ORCHIDS. 



In almost every collection of orchids, whether large or small, the owner and 

 grower continually weed out their inferior varieties and replace them with superior 

 ones ; hybrid dendrobiums are prized generally, and so are cattleyas and cypripe- 

 diums; but calanthes, vandas, phaius, &c, are not generally '.sought after 

 so much as the three former, although there are gems amongst them. A great 

 many of the hybrids, in my opinion, are a long way behind the parents, for, to 

 obtain a good cross, a great amount of consideration is required. There is no 

 doubt about the work being very fascinating, but the long, anxious waiting is 

 against it. At the present time we find several hybrids in flower, Cattleya calu- 

 mata and C. c. superba, the result of a cross between C. Acklandise and C. 

 amethystoglossa, being certainly a gain on the former parent, having a stronger 

 constitution and an intermediate colour ; a good variety of the latter is, however, 

 worth growing. Cattleya Schofieldiana is another of the same section, while 

 C. Forbesi, C guttata, and C. g. Leopoldiana all come into flower when flowers are 

 scarce, with the exception of a few C. gigas. All the cattleyas in flower at this 

 time of the year are best kept by themselves, for the amount of moisture used in 

 the cattleya houses will cause the blooms to damp and the colour to fade. Mil- 

 tonia Roezli and M. Roezli alba will be now making new roots. This is a species 

 that requires special attention if repotting is required. This may be done at the 

 present time, and a good plan is to thoroughly wash out all the roots with clean 

 water, thoroughly strip the bulbs of any old leaves, and immerse them, roots and 

 all, in a weak solution of fir tree oil insecticide, washing them in clean water 

 before repotting. This is done in order to eradicate the yellow thrip that they 

 are often infested with. This Miltonia must be grown in a hothouse where it 

 can have plenty of moisture and be syringed often ; in fact, a good plan is to keep 

 the syringe close to where the plants are grown, and every time you come near use 

 it. Allow the plants a damp bedding of sphagnum or anything that keeps moist. 



Dendrobium formosum will be now throwing up spikes, and the plants must 

 not Income dry at the roots ; use the syringe when the weather is favourable, and 

 sponge the plants with soft soap water occasionally, as bug often infests the top 

 leaves and gets among the buds. Dendrobium Phalaenopsis Schroderianum will 

 also be throwing up its flower spikes, and such must be placed at the warm end 

 of the dendrobium house, and be treated in the same manner as the earlier 

 dendrobiums. D. Falconeri will just about have finished flowering, it is a gem in 

 its class, but a difficult one to grow and flower successfully; plants have been 

 known to grow well and flower abundantly kept altogether in an ordinary plant 

 stove, allowing only a few weeks' rest in the winter months, and in the summer 

 allowing abundance of water, and syringing three or four times a day. Some 

 grow them with other dendrobiums, and allow them a long rest, which is prefer- 

 able, as they must be allowed to finish their growth, and be gradually brought to 

 rest. Dendrobium Falconeri giganteum, a supposed natural hybrid between D. 

 Wardianum and D. Falconeri, requires plenty of heat while growing, and must 

 be kept clean ; in fact, cleanliness is the greater part of the battle in growing 

 orchils successfully. La>lia elegans will be coming into flower in many collections ; 

 only just sufficient water must be given to allow for the preservation of the flowers, 

 and in order to keep the bulbs in proper form. 



During this month we are often troubled with cold nights, and I noticed a few 

 evenings ago the thermometer registered only six degrees above freezing point, so 

 care must be taken not to do any damping on such nights, though many growers 

 are in the habit of damping as late as nine or ten o'clock. The shading will require 

 to be carefully managed, and so will airing.— T. Stafford, Tyntesfield Gardens. 



STOVE PLANTS. 



The later successional batches of poinsettias should be potted up at once, and 

 encouraged to make a free growth. The earlier batches are looking well, and 

 should be established in their flowering pots ; give them all the light possible 

 except during the middle of hot days. ^Shut them up and afford them a good 

 syringing about a quarter to three, opening the ventilators about an inch at six p.m., 

 and leaving them open all night. When watering be sure the whole ball is 

 wetted through, if the pots are full of roots. Poinsettias will take plenty of 

 water, and they must not be allowed to suffer for the want of it from the time 

 they are established in their flowering pots until their bracts are fully expanded ; 

 if the watering is carefully attended to, and the plants do not receive a check from 

 any other cause, they will retain their leaves to the base, and this should be the object 

 of the cultivator, as without plenty of good healthy foliage it is useless to look for 

 large bracts. Young plants of panax in three inch pots may be potted into five- 

 inch, in which they will make useful specimens for furnishing Cuttings of 

 acalypha may be had in abundance now ; propagate these singly in two and 

 a- half and three-inch pots, in which sizes they are useful for table decoration. 

 Put in a few more suckers (small) of pandanus ; these will root on a dry shelf ; 

 small plants of three to four inches high, in thumb pots, are useful to associate 

 with scarlet and white flowers on a dinner table ; also for placing in the miniature 

 vases ladies are so fond of introducing into the boudoir. Pot on cuttings and 

 seedlings of Asparagus tenuissimus, A. Sprengeri, A. plumosus, &c. ; five-inch 

 pots are a suitable size for these for decorating. Young stock raised in the spring 

 make useful plants by the autumn. Put in a few pots of cuttings of fittonias and 

 Pilea muscosa for winter use. Young stock of gloxinias established in five-inch 

 pots must receive every encouragement, so that they may make a good display 

 during September. Remove older plants coming into flower to a cooler and drier 

 house. Achimenes as they come into flower remove to the conservatory, removing 

 batches of these and gloxinias as they pass out of flower to a pit where they may 

 receive plenty of sun and air ; give water regularly until the foliage is *ell ad- 

 vanced in ripening. The thorough maturation of the tubers simplifies their sue- 

 cesstul keeping over winter. Keep a sharp lookout upon reinwardtias, that red 

 spider does not gain a footing, e l se many of their leaves will fell, and thus 

 detract great y from their beauty at the flowering season. 



\ oung plants of Kmna humilis that are now flowering should be afforded a 

 position in a moderately warm, airy house to enable them to set a good crop 

 of their lovely coloured berries ; well berried plants of this and Callicarpa pur- 



KaL^I W .t f ° r T nmn decoration, Ardisias also are useful, but it is 

 SmnWt** th t e , m weU d °ne. All strong plowing plants should be afforded 



rtsss? site *sk ■£* in fac,,a " r fu " of r *>" 



it will be necSsaivt P • are & rowin g under climbers, such as Allamanda, 

 if allowed to remain , xat 5 ,me them once everyday and remove fallen flowers, fn T 

 beneath. £SK»X22 T *** to piously disfigure the foliage of the plants 

 purpose I shrmM 8 reeIv and wil1 need feeding, unless for any special 



to throw ud their fW rec , ommei "i removal to other houses to cause them 



up their flowers later ; if mite is present in the soil it will make such 



l?V h l P re Y ale ?« °f du « weather y do 



some 



excite the occupants of the stove by excessive heat in tho _.• °° not try to 

 temperature to fall a degree or two and keen the k„ co „ y t J ? es> rather all °* the 

 so tfe plants will standee strong sun bet^ 



dull period feed the plants less liberally than duK k i £ 80 dunn ^ a l <« 



Tunnington, Ripley Castle Gardens. 7 b " ghter wea ^'- 



J. 



THE FLOWER 



planting 



was ADD 



m 



but the extreme heat of the past few weeks has induced ^"^SSJffi 

 before these somewhat autumnal flowers are desired. Where blooms SSwSS 

 for exhibition three stakes should be placed triangularly to each plant, about fiftLn 

 inches or so apart at the baseband spreading outwards toward the top. To 32 

 the three main shoots should be secured, keeping the laterals pinched out F« 

 the decoration of the garden and the house, however, this pinching of shoots is rZ 

 necessary, as an abundance of flowers, and those of moderate size, are the more 

 generally useful. Earwigs are often especially troublesome in dry seasons and 



devour the dahlia blooms in a young state. These may be trapped in short leU» 

 of dry bean haulm or small pots with a little dry hay or moss in them placed in 

 an inverted position on the top of the stakes, or if thought unsightly, on shorter 

 ones placed out of sight among the plants. Where exhibition flowers are desired 

 watering will be necessary if the weather continues dry, giving also an occasional 

 soaking of liquid manure while the flower buds are swelling. Shrubby calceolarias 

 have been a mass of flowers ; as soon as fading they should be removed and a 

 fresh growth and further blossoms be encouraged by affording moisture to the 

 roots. Tuberous begonias also are seen to a disadvantage in seasons like the 

 present, unless a mulching be applied and water in abundance given occasionally. 

 The same remarks will apply to violas, fuchsias, and sub-tropical bedding plants 

 generally, although the warm weather has, up to the present, been conducive to a 

 free growth among the last mentioned plants. Bedding pelargoniums have 



their requirements. Spent 



among 



flowered abundantly, the warm weather suiting 

 blossoms should be promptly removed. 



Among herbaceous subjects that may now be increased by division and cuttings, 

 as soon as weather permits, are the double and single pyrethrums, and the old 

 double-flowered white rocket, both extremely useful plants. The pyrethrums 

 should be lifted, pulled into medium sized pieces, with a portion of roots attached, 

 and potted up into four or five-inch pots, using a rather sandy loam with t little 

 leaf-soil. Give one good watering and stand them in a cold frame, keeping it 

 rather close and shaded until root growth recommences, when shading may be 

 gradually discontinued, and full exposure afforded. If a frame is not availaNe 

 they may stand under a north wall, or other shady spot, and be sprinkled over- 

 head occasionally. When potted up in this way good plants are quickly formtd, 

 and they may be planted out in the autumn or early spring. To grow the double 

 rocket well the clumps should be lifted annually, as, when allowed to remtin 

 longer, the plants dwindle away and throw but poor spikes, and in dry seam 

 die out entirely. If the flower spikes have been cut down as they have goneoot 

 of bloom, young growths will have started from the base, which altord a ready 

 means of increasing the plant. These, if lifted and pulled off separately and I t* 

 planted, will grow away and make strong plants for another season. It will he 

 advisable to wait until rain falls, and a change of grounJ should be given, if 

 possible, when replanting. A portion should be grown in the reserve 

 where propagation may be carried out, and the change from here to the flower 

 borders is of service in maintaining a healthy stock of plants. Afford water in 

 sufficient quantity to well settle the soil about the roots, and sprinkle overneai ■ 

 dry weather until the plants are established. 



An important operation at this season is the layering of the border wr f l ^T 

 At the time of writing these are in full bloom, the season being a late one, dui » 

 plants should be taken in hand as soon as possible, otherwise the layers i ac vm 

 moU rfr^^ «i ^ u„r i j fu Previous to beginning to »t*». 



The 



fl. 



make strong plants before cold weather sets in. *.w.w— ~ , - ...ft^ 

 slightly loosen the surface soil round the plants with a fork, make a sumj. 

 number of hooks from birch, bracken stems, or such like, to peg the layers 

 with, about five inches in length, and prepare a quantity of moderately l^U «p 

 soil to place around the layers to encourage the formation of roots quick >. 

 sifted refuse from the potting bench, mixed with a little fresh loam and « 

 forms a suitable mixture. Where the shoots on a plant are numerous, '~ ^ 

 of the outer and more conveniently-placed ones will be surncient to i.y ^ 

 one plant. From these strip off the bottom leaves for a space or 

 inches, and with a sharp knife cut half way through the lower ^s de 01 w _ A 

 passing the blade upwards through a couple of joints. Upen ine ^ 

 and press the stem into the soil, keeping the parts se 



ouuuiu uc piacea rouna me pia-u^ 



watering, and the tips of each shoot layered s 



parated, fixing the shoolij 

 V ■ stem. Tbeprepi** 



depression to faci»»» 



ipped off as 



snoot layereu miuuij. *~ -"'Hr- . . • ^ t*faff 



proceeds. If the beds are dry a thorough soaking of wat er s ^^ ond ^ 10(l 

 commencing operations, and after layering: a moderately moisi 

 be maintained. — C. Herrin, Dropmore Gardens. 



HARDY FRUIT. ^ results *T 



Of late years little attention has been paid to vines on waiL, ^ 



be secured from these, for la-t year we had very fair grapes on ^ tux » 



so that a more favourable wall should give better results^ Wow 

 stop lateral growth, and this is important, for unless he v ne &k.J+ 

 sun, the crop will be poor. Feeding may now done on^ ;|; ^ ^ ptft 

 liquid manure from cowsheds or stables is one of *He new 

 weekly will hniM nn Q . foiiincr liauid manure, sue 



guano 



or 



doses in preference 



may be given, but here it is better to give 



strong one. Where the bunches of grapes are Mi " " " near'ly" 



few of the best, as this hastens ripening, and the M they «*W 



always grown so weii ^ ^ ^ 



ilture, 



plenty of them, if timely attention is paid ^ ^Pf "J. -^"^r ; 



size and of superior quality. Figs are not aiway» 6— ~ - t a large 

 barrenness is often due to faulty culture, for figs will c^iL^ ^ ,hoot% 

 plenty of them, if timely attention is paid to stoppmg , ana r 

 some counties, of course, the fig will not thrive withou^ 

 many places, luscious fruits can be grown. Now is tneu 



seasons irumng, as it is wcu : f - t . an 



attended to weekly, and the wood robs the tg?*™^ 

 tion of next season's crop also. Young growths : should in ^ ^ 

 but avoid overcrowding it is fatal to good cropping. ^ ^ 



he tune w ~~r- k 

 trees often fj^L^fjr* 



the 



often 



wood 



,pped 



pwuon ot oia, healthy wood, with spurs, »«» — - 

 borne the earliest fruits. Keep the spur growtns 



fruit freely may a number of the old branches ^r^, 



that b»* "r" 



early 



