544 



GA RDENERS MA GA ZINE. 



Work for the W eek, 



COOL ORCHIDS. 



The season has now arrived for the general examination of odontoglossums, con- 

 sequently any plants of O. Pescatorei, O. triumphans, O. tripudians, O. Halli, 

 O. luteo-purpureum, O. elegans, O. excellens, O. maculatum, and O. cordatum 

 that require a shift should be attended to. Plants that are in good material, and 

 in receptacles large enough for the development of the next season's growth, should 

 not be disturbed in any way, as only those plants that have overgrown their 

 receptacles, or are in sour material will need to be repotted. These latter should 

 be turned out and all the old material possible shaken off without injury to the 

 living roots ; cut away all decayed roots. Pots of a suitable size for the develop- 

 ment of two season's growth should be used, and if these are new from the pottery 

 they should be put into a tub of water to soak before use ; afford drainage to 

 within two inches of the surface, using clean crocks, and over this put a thin layer 

 of clean sphagnum moss ; the compost should consist of equal parts of 

 peat and moss, and if the moss be long it should be chopped up, these 

 should be well mixed together with some finely broken crocks, charcoal, and a 

 sprinkling of coarse silver sand. The plants should be raised a little above the 

 rim of the pot, and be potted moderately firm, a few living heads of sphagnum 

 being pricked in over the surface and kept occasionally sprayed over to encourage 

 it to grow, as this greatly improves the appearance of the specimens. The water- 

 ing of the newly potted subjects is of the greatest importance, and should receive 

 careful attention, for if overdosed with water failure is sure to follow ; dew the 

 plants over head once or twice daily if the weather be fine and bright. 



At this season the heating apparatus in the cool houses should be examined 

 and put into good working order, ready for the winter ; any loose joints in the 

 hot water pipes must be made good, and valves and air taps be oiled, so that all 

 will be in readiness when wanted. It is of the greatest importance that sufficient 

 pipes be provided to supply the necessary temperature when the water is moderately 

 warm, for when only a few pipes are supplied they have to be kept excessively 

 hot, especially in hard weather, and this is one of the greatest evils in cool orchid 

 culture, and often causes the plants to quickly deteriorate. 



Lcclia pnestans is now growing and rooting freely, and will require a liberal 

 supply of moisture, but the compost should always be allowed to become moderately 

 dry before giving water. The same remarks apply to Oncidium ornithorhynchum, 

 as this species is now growing and producing its flower spikes freely. Odonto- 

 glossum cirrhosum is also growing freely, and will enjoy a large supply of water ; 

 a position should be found for the<e three species at the warmest end of the cool 

 house.— E. SiilLL, Afcw Hall Hey Gardens. 



CONSERVATORY AND GREENHOUSE. 



Tiir demand for carnations in a cut state appears to be ever on the increase, 

 and in many gardens large stocks of pot plants have to be grown for the produc- 

 tion of bloom during the winter months. With suitable houses, and a good 

 collection of plants that have been properly cultivated during the summer, there 

 U no great difficulty in meeting the demand, and it would be difficult to point to 

 any class of plant that is so much service to gardeners who have large quantities 

 of cut flowers to provide. One chief thing is to see that there is always a young 

 stock of plants coming on. With the best of treatment and skill the plants can- 

 not always he depended upon to come into bloom exactly at the same time each 

 season. To make sure of the flowers at the time they are most wanted it i* 

 necessary to have them in different stages of growth at the close of summer. It 

 is now too late to alter the conditions of the stock this season, but not "to make 

 provision for another year. Cuttings with a heel will strike readily now if a 

 grntle hott>ed is provided. Suitable cuttings will be found on the stems of those 

 which have been flowering during the summer. Select those about four inches 

 long, and, as mentioned bebre, with a heel. Fill a number of four-inch pots with 

 rich sandy soil and insert the cuttings about half their length, keeping them by 

 the side of the p us. (iive a thorough soaking, and then plunge the pots up to 

 their rims in cocoa nut fibre refuse, which has been placed over the fermenting 

 material. Ventilate the frame carefully so as not to cause a draught, and see that 

 the sun does not reach the cuttings until roots have formed. When it is seen that 

 roots have formed give more ventilation, and eventually remove them to a cold 

 frame, hut arrange the pots well up to the glass to ensure a sturdy habit. The 

 points may he pinched out, and directly side shoots commence to form divide the 

 punts carefully and pot up singly. This will give a good batch of plants to be 

 wintered in small pots, and the following spring they may be repotted and grown 

 on during the summer, making large plants before autumn. If another batch of 

 cuttings are put in next spring these will form a good succession. Carnations that 

 were put out in the open last spring, and that are intended to flower during the 

 winter, must soon be lifted and potted. 



Double primulas, especially the white varieties, are also valuable for winter 

 flowering, as they are so continuous. It is time now they received their final 

 potting. Any bloom that is showing should be pinched out for the next few weeks 

 to encourage leaf and root growth. Give good rich friable soil, affording free 

 drainage as the plants are likely to go oft suddenly at the collar during a spell of 

 Uul weather if the compost becomes at all water-logged. In potting, sink the ball 

 wen down, so that the lower leaves are on a level with the soil, without which the 

 plants would become top heavy and fall over on one side. The habit these plants 

 have of going off suddenly may be prevented to a great extent by giving more 

 warmth and affording water carefully. Keep the plants close and shaded after 

 each potting, a cold current of air through the house or frame, in which the plants 

 u.f*V\l y cd \^ uses r lhe f°li ? geto turn yellow, and care is required afterwards to 



„x ? 9 free ;g rowin g state again. Weak soot water once or twice a 

 ™? I Y glVCn t ,arg , e P lants which have filled their pots with roots, or they 

 ^LrT a . S P nn 1 khn 8 ? f CI »y*» fertiliser occasionally. The different kinds of 

 Tnrh l°7" mg P n * S that ? Ucceed under the planting-out system during summer, 

 nnn ^ and others of a simihTr descrip- 



in 1 a 7 thClr r00tS 0X11 in b V * sharp spade. If the longest roots are 



fevered in this way at once, new rootlets win for" 

 little or no check is given when they are lifted' 



cannot 



_ — g , 1 ,| | B 



R. Parker, Goodwood Gardens. 

 KITCHEN GARDEN. 

 mi Syfoj ^ ings at the proper time at this season of the year 



The weather. tooV P^^^ant^?* ***** thC *f™ C * CTO P' 

 plants cannot make satisfactory ™ ^ ' when ** £ round ,s l» r ched young 

 weather prevails manv small L " °S ress - On the other hand, when cold, wet 

 ever, be made f or plantine s Lv 8S | | SUffeif seriousI y- Preparation should, how- 

 of us summer crop. The caU » . I,a ges as soon as the ground can be cleared 

 prime crops, and manv p*rH«.n.J e m , man y gardens is considered to be one of the 

 UJ the season. It is usual pn ; ie them «lvcs of being able to cut very early 



m a fair condition as to fertility ny J? aces . to P ,ant aft " onions, the ground being 



/• itiere is. however, much difference in soils, few 



AUGDST 20, 1898. 



in some places it is so light and sandy as to need a liberal dr*« 

 every crop, while in others it partakes of the nature of clav i?nfT U / e *» 

 nature, a dressing of manure should be eiven as mnn oc ^ y * • ot the (orvma 



A~. Z =™l B fe„„M « J- aS . soon M crop i S taken nff . ?2 



cannot 



usually make the ground sufficiently solid for planting ^—EftS rains *® 

 a good plan to draw shallow drills, as by planting in th £ 1 10ns k » 

 during rough weather in winter, particularly when the drilbareS' ,Saf [ orde I 

 south, as during cold easterly winds, the ridges afford ^i rS^ST Th* F 

 tance allowed between the rows and plants must, in a measure h?LJ c 

 quality of the soil, but for any of the early kinds eighteen ScheV each ™ ° V5 8 

 ample. In dealing with land that is stiff, far more care is ne^ f *, ** 

 at The proper tinfe, and planted when in fair coTdidon t* ft ^S"** 



nmotrfr^lit ryr^A fl^ne inrfn.J *1 1 • ? 7* 11 Prevent Hit Wat>f 



of the spring will have elapsed before growth commences. 



bbage, a good portion 



m ^ ouglAlx <u> uocn n • WeI1 10 makc 



the particles of soil to run together untiTth^waS^has much mc^S^iSS 

 mg, the consequence being plants suffer much in winter. Where those from th 

 first sowing are large enough to handle, these ought to be picked out to m! 

 their becoming drawn. They should be freely watered in dry weather so tW 

 there be no check, 9 



The late sowings of carrots ought now to be thinned, but this must be done 

 with discretion, according to the variety, from two to three inches beine aroolT 

 Endive should be planted, where the situation is low and damp, on the driest 

 portion of the garden, otherwise the plants will suffer should there be a qutmit? 

 of ram fall during the autumn. For the late sowings choose a south bordtr and 

 allow sufficient space between the plants that the air may get among the foliage to 

 prevent the leaves from rotting. Make a sowing of hardy cos lettuce, such a* 

 Hicks' or Brown cos. Those from former sowing should be transplanted' as soon 

 as large enough. Cuttings of lemon and other thyme should be inserted in a cold 

 frame, likewise such herbs as sage and others of a shrubby nature. The lifting 

 and storing of potatos will now form an important item in this department, u 

 many of the second early kinds are quite ripe. When the ground is cleared of 

 the crop, it should be forked over and made ready for turnips. This latter beirgone 

 of the most important of our winter root crops, should on no account be neglected ; 

 a goodly breadth ought always to be put in, as crisp, sweet, roots are always in 

 demand. The thinning of former sowings should be commenced as soon as the 

 plants have made two or three rough leaves that they may be kept sturdy. Con- 

 tinue to make small sowings of radishes and other salads, as these are still much 

 in request. Use every means to keep down weeds, which always grow apace at 

 this season of the year, and if neglected soon form seed which is scattered <mr 

 the garden.— H. C. Prinsep, Btixted Park Gardens. 



FRUITS UNDER GLASS. 



Pot figs for early forcing will require a season of rest before they are again 

 started. Excitement of any kind will start them again into growth, or, at all events, 

 cause them to cast their crops later on; and, on the other hand, exposure of th* 

 pots to the drying influences of sun and air outside will result in shrivelling of the 

 wood. The best method of treatment is to put the plants outside, and mulch o?cf 

 and around the pots with lorg litter, so that the roots may be cool while the tops 

 are fully exposed. The mulching will obviate the necessity of frequent watering!, 

 but the roots must by no means be allowed to diy, and it is advisable to syringe 

 i he trees overhead every afternoon, after hot days, as this will keep both the wood 

 and the embryo fruits plump. Any weakly wood that is not required should he 

 removed, if this was not done some weeks back when recommended, as such * * 

 is only a nuisance, and will not carry fruits. I advised, too, a while ago, that any 

 trees needing repotting should be attended to then, so that they could become 

 somewhat re-established before being put outdoors, but it may still be done if 

 necessary, only means must, be taken to prevent souring of the soil aftcrwird?, 

 and it may be necessary to keep them for a time under cover. Planted out trce< 

 will go on fruiting and ripening second-crop fruits for some weeks longer if allowed 

 to do so, and in the case of well-established trees I see no objection to their doing 

 this, for there is no difference in next year's first crop through the little extra strain, 

 and the fruits come in now most conveniently where there are no successionai 

 trees. 



Late melons are required in many establishments, but they are fr^uently]PO« 

 things when they ripen under dull skies, and when the sun heat is reduced ; * 

 melon house to supply late fruits cannot be too light or clean, and must havea 

 good supply of artificial heat. This must be borne in mind just now, and th«*g 

 the exact aspect or heating power of the house may be l>eyond the conir 

 of the grower he can at least insist on cleanliness. The glass should r* wc 

 scrubbed inside and out, as also should be all stagings, and a liberal suppif 



If the house r« 



light 



pan 



This will 



I-ate 



t 



" w a " '"-^cc are, ana prepare the way for a clean start. i-uc ...v— r- 

 best grown in pots, and these should not be over-large, neither is it a " %1 " 

 attempt big crops from the plants. Great care should be taken not to 

 cause other damage to the stems and main leaves, as canker follows such in) 

 and is especially fatal to the plants later in the year. Melons in manorjj 

 pits have had a struggle this year, but they have done remarkibly well ^ 

 probably from the extra attention given to the linings necessitated W™*^ 

 cold weather. From now onward the frames should be matted up e*«J* n 

 and every effort made to conserve what sun heat we may get, as » M 

 Scorning long, and by the morning the drop in temperature will be amw 

 unless the glass is covered with some warm material. reoUD ,ing ope* 



The present is an excellent time to carry out any lifting and «P WD ; * trf « 



necessary in the early peach and nectaime nuu«. 

 *i ,. * ...:..f„„!«,v the secret 



rfering 



sougb 



is done carefully and the after treatment is right, the cause snou ' a ^^T^o* 

 and rectihed. Space will not permit me here giving details as to the « 

 of the work, but I may say that with fairly young trees I nev er w ^ 

 liftingw,th a ball of soil provided I can get the roots almost m ^\^ uet i» wci 



" * attempting too much in that way. i . 



»ll Ju innmnn,- the TOOtS Without lfe*t 



•h soil well worked in among 

 good soaking of water no harm 



e to it 



will * 



wood 



ngs 



*ss will need ^hadine for a few days, and that syringing/"-^ J 



-• < l^ 



d more than answers the same purpose. See t h at g** 

 good for the roots, and above all, that there is n ■ detic 



J- U Tallack, Livermert Park Gardens. 



