578 



GARDENERS MAGAZINE 



Work 



Week 



COOL ORCHIDS. 



The occupants of the cool houses enjoy the cool, dewy nights that usually prevail 

 during this season, and at no time during the year do cool orchids grow more 

 freely than at the present ; to give the plants every opportunity of deriving benefit 

 from the cool night air the ventilators should be left wide open. Should cold cut- 

 ting winds occur, such as we experience here occasionally, more care must be 

 exercised with regard to ventilation. Slugs are usually a nuisance at this period, 

 being very fond of eating the tender roots and flower spikes ; they should be care- 

 fully sought for at night, and also trapped with lettuce leaves. Odonioglossum 

 ramosissimum, O. Edwardi, O. Uro Skinneri, Oncidium undulatum, and 

 O. macranthum are now pushing up their flower spikes, so a little cotton wool, 

 placed around the base of the spikes, will help to protect them from slugs, as the 

 pests find a great difficulty in crossing the woolly surface. The pretty and distinct 

 Oncidium incurvum is now in flower, and it lasts a long time in perfection, but 

 the spike should only be allowed to remain on the plants a reasonable length of 

 time ; after flowering, the plants should be kept fairly dry for some time, but not 

 allowed to shrivel. Any plants of Odontoglossum < 1 Irstedi that are in need of new 

 receptacles should now be attended to, as root action is about to commence • well- 

 drained shallow pans should be used, and a compost of equal parts of peat and 

 moss will suffice for rooting material. It must be remembered that this odonto 

 glossum thrives much better under a drier treatment than most species. 



Plants of the charming Miltonia vexillaria will now be in a sufficiently advanced 

 state of growth to admit of any being repotted or top-dressed that require it • but 

 before this operation is commenced the plants should be carefully examined to 

 make sure they are perfectly free from insects, as the little yellow thrips often 

 conceal themselves right down in the interior of the young growths, ard it is 

 almost impossible to eradicate these pests with brush or sponge ; the best method 

 we find, of destroying these insects is to dip or wash the young growths in some 

 sate insecticide, afterwards rinsing them well in some tepid soft water X L All 

 liquid insecticide is very effective, at the rate of one part to twenty parts of water 

 Kepotting should only be done in cases where they have overgrown their recep- 

 tacles, or the material is in a sour condition ; these should be carefully taken out 

 and all the old material possible removed, without injury to the living roots, and 

 all decayed roots cut away. Pots or pans of a suitable size should be filled to 

 about three quarters of their depth with clean drainage, upon which should be 

 placed a layer of clean moss, the old living roots should then be carefully laid over 

 the drainage, and a compost of equal parts peat and moss, with a small quantity of 

 finely-broken crocks and charcoal intermixed, should be worked in amongst them 

 mounding the plants up somewhat from the edge of the pot. After potting water 

 must 1* sparingly afforded through a fine rose ; when the new growths commence 

 to root freely and have a good hold on the compost, the water must be gradually 

 increased, but during the winter months the plants should be kept rather dry • the 

 temperature of the cool house will suit them until the nights become chilly, when'thev 

 should be removed to the intermediate house.— E. Shill, New Halllfey Gardens. 



CONSERVATORY AND GREENHOUSE. 



Bulbs of various kinds play a most important part in affording both cut bloom 

 and plants for decorative purposes, from November until late spring. Few are 

 more useful than the Roman hyacinth, especially as they force so freely, and with 

 w£w Iy tT the,r P ure wh [ te . sweet-scented spikes may be obtained before mid 

 U £ .L.Ak! ercat „ secret ' however, in forcing the*e and other bulbs successfully 

 u to have them well rooted More they are placed into heat. No time must now 



Si&ldSSSS thC e A a ^ ki "ds at least, and have them either potted o* 

 £h nf ° W , T 5 ' ^° Ut five bulbs of Koman hyacinths, or any of the 



s£ Sr^Kr 1 ; ? r !r c,ght sized pots come in usefui for fi,rnlshin e k*e^ 



23 Tor cut L T • C , conservat0 'y ! but when they are grown chiefly to be 

 three ZrhZ A * u h ° U [ d about thi 'ty inches long, nine inches broad, and 



O Ki&^*SS m thCy Unf °l d durin S the SUn,ess of November. 



Dremre 1 ,1 ' ► k L grow most bulbs satisfactorily, though a more carefully 



S i««3Sfa?«Shw used / or ,a , ter kinds ' es P ecial, y h r acinths and *K 



onrr .« ,£ exhibition. It is best to prepare a good heap of compost at 



rich i if T- fli? f ° Und Suitab,e for ail kinds- The stapkshould be good 



M manure atx'L 3 ^ 'Vflf* deca y ed ,eaVCS ° r S P ent »»£S2 



fitaSit £Sr2S k 0f and half that amount of soot to 



m tStt in T Wl L h / g0Od s P» nk «ng of sharp sand. If this can be 



w h Xs t' r e" n Pen - Shed * tUf . ned OVer several times ' and kc P l cov ««i 

 whenever it i !^L£**T* the ri 8 ht material wi,! in readiness 



iT 2 \onJ o Mh, L Cd t °. p0t U P the di,,erent sections ' Unl «s 



dkmeteTw , I L tffil grow,D 8 or liIiums ' P ots six inch « in 



iZZ tZj n Aiv the most convenient size, as these generally fit into the 

 SunJSZ ?n Z g r °° m . S ' and for ^e surface l>eing mossed over neatly. 

 SecS to S,n«f ?u' ,y » P° tted U P ^ once a suitable position must be 



S It k JKf J*!? Untl1 ^ are sufficiently rooted for placing in the forcing 

 uhJ* i! !- ake - 1 ° Se,ect a co,d » da mP spot, such as the foot of a north wait 

 bed of a /h« in " rClarded J far b «"cr arrange the pots, or boxes, on a hard 

 dition the fo m a tiTn rm r sunn y. cortler . where, with the soil kept in a suitable con- 



Spo! areTr?wed tT 86 T 2* ^ S P" nk,e the Wdl witb "**• ***** 



we do not rec 2™5 J he .l^s themselves may be plunged in fine ashes, but 

 usec^nuM h,! fi C ° Ve r ng l hem with the same material, and would rather 



to retam TunLZ 1 > * V ? mth from the sun, the covering is merely used 



mos 7n tnei wU be' 111 t ^ C °, m P° St the ,MI,ba a ' C P la « d *i and for the 

 there is I o f^S l ° C ° d frames More severe frosts set in. If 

 should be usedfo klo Ln .75. BrtUn S l « the bulbs fine meshed wire netting 



September 



• — ^ 



cheap and are easily forced. Place them rather ihicklv in « a- 

 like other bulbs, make no attempt to *u * k . y . ln Medium si 



like other bulbs, make no attempt to force them ^hevTS^T ^ »« 

 roots, and a couple of inches of top growth in a cold fr vf plent y of 

 safe condition for placing on shelves near the glass in a Mr! 6 ' !| le > r . Me then i n t 

 will throw up a strong spike. The season is with * P * hen each h ""' 



The 



JVT.,, 1 luc wno 'e stock of 

 obtained the better, as they lose 



•son is with US When rLu' " oulb 



th*t ,k , promise to be very fine tf, 



that they are not damaged in unpacking • 

 not be allowed to remain in the -'" g L°.' 1 



ss, after being exposed 



season, and rare shouh 



fancy section will need attention. , 



in a sunny spot, may be pruned hard back. Some of the tnn7 ™ K '7 npened °* 

 cuttings and rooted in a cold frame if it is reauired to Ln 9 *l n,ad e into 

 plants'may be arranged close together in a coW W ^ ^ 



roots for a time, but moisten them overhead, and close ^2?! kJ* 1 " , at the 

 has passed off each afternoon. The old stems will then orr^T ° re the ^ 

 which may be thinned out, when about an inch Ion I Thf i n f umero "s shoots, 

 K» ;„ o c,,:f„Ki. — Ai*-J n t~ .k. " in cn long The plants too, will th« 



1 out, cutting back some of the straJS 

 R. Parker, Goodwood Gardens. ° 8 8 



■^w m t* ouuauit ^uuumuu jui ell a is 



roots and repotting into smaller pots 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



In the southern districts most of the late ootatn* will v»*r twu 

 HWng, ,he, ? fore Of. shou.d be taken «^£S^^«J 

 long spell of hot, dry weather we may expect a quantity of rain whJn I * 

 takes place and should this be so many o'fthe Rubers would no douot fe 

 diseased if allowed to remain in the ground. It is not yet too late to wkeTjf 

 ng of turnips for pulling ,n spring, but the sooner the seed is got into the £S 

 the more chances there are of a crop. The quick-growing varieties shrffiul 

 chosen as these are usually the most hardy. Winter %an«S f too L d n 1 £ 

 sow^. That which is put into the ground now will usually give a supply Ute t 



Cr S a nV S A n °V° babI f t0 ru . n l l s . eed 5 hould there be dry weaSB dSj 

 March and April. Winter spinach is rather a trying crop in some district 

 particularly when sown too soon, as a rapid growth is made during the mild 

 weather in autumn, which proves too sappy to withstand the early frost, the con- 

 sequence being total failure at the time when most required. Young plants should 

 be thinned to a distance of about six inches, and when sufficient growth has bee* 

 made to permit of them being used every other plant should be drawn for the 

 kitchen so as t^> give the others more room to develop. 



The unusual hot, dry weather has been very trying for late peas, so much to in 

 the south-east that unless watering has been attended to they will be a total failure. 

 With us the sun-heat during the past fortnight has on most days been recorded on 

 the thermometer as 118 or 120 degrees, while in the shade it has been from 85 to 

 92 degrees ; with such weather, there is little wonder at the difficulty expeiiencei 

 in persuading plants to grow, particularly such moisture-loving subjects as peas. 

 Where due consideration was given to the selection of varieties and attention paid 

 to watering, the plants have made a good growth, and are now showing hloom ; 

 to enable them to fill the pods copious waterings must be afforded, and ihe foliage 

 moistened of an evening to prevent mildew. All of the brassicas will need an 

 abundance of moisture to keep them growing, therefore do not fail to pay parti- 

 cular attention to this or failure will be the result. With such hot weather ooe is 

 apt to forget that the autumn is fast approaching, and that we may in the course 

 of a few weeks have sufficient frost to cut down tender plants, when a stop will 

 be put to many of our tender vegetables. Peas and dwarf beans should k sown 

 in pits where protection can be afforded, as by so doing the supply will be pro- 

 longed. Continue to plant out lettuce and endive, and make another sowing 

 towards the middle of the month of onions, cauliflower, lettuce, and other salads. 

 H. C. Prinsep, BtixtedPark Gardens. 



FRUITS UNDER GLASS. 



Except in those gardens where the glass accommodation is quite equal to the 

 requirements, and there is no need to utilise vineries for plant growing, the iweat 



aim during the present month will be tc ' - • - ' ' 



they may be ready for cutting by the ena 01 tne rnonin, wnen cnrysamncuiuiw, 

 and the many other things grown for winter decoration, will have to he brought 

 under cover. Unless grapes are well finished on the vines before the end of 

 September they will hardly be found satisfactory to the consumer when their time 

 comes for consumption. This applies more particularly to w L: '- M " ,fl 



necessary. 



ee camber 



£iu W cr biiuuia not rest satisfied until his grapes have assumed me uerp*i«« 

 tint so gratifying to connoisseurs; unless this stage is reached the flesh will be 

 watery and insipid later on. The necessary fire-heat should be carefully applied, 



1 such 

 cooler 



Another matter 



ing 



C1JL Wvit^* ^ 



d berries ; but when the watering 

 ;>mes sufficiently dry before mgbt 

 Dry borders not only le»d to 



>mi to , imu uiey are really Daa lor me vines themselves, ^^J?^ *^ 

 * borders during the autumn and winter is totally opposed to u* 

 natural conditions of things, and much to be deprecated. m ^ 



Careful hung to keep up temperatures in the pine-houscs or pits will nowi* 

 necessary, as it- ic u «r^n^.l hv the V*UW* 



to prevent any undue amount of evaporation 

 shrivelled berries, hut- th*« - ii« w th* 



of our insid 



* — — " " un, «<-* 10 depend mucn 011 uk uwi piwuuw- ~ M - • 

 materials and linings now that the niehts crow longer and cooler. Close up 

 hoiKPv; Mint^ ^-1.. *l. °i .1 1 • ...re: . . ,,ti iiMi to raise 



tin 



.-. . ...v., a UU ma i up ine p Us at ni g ni . mese unit 

 ably reduce the coal bill. Ripeninc fruits should be kept 



raise up 

 apprefl 



w m vciy llgIlc po Sltlon C | OS e to me giass. n possible, they. * 

 grouped by themselves. To plants carrying fruits in an advanc ed iPg ^ 



* llu »c siiuuia ne given as iic^wmi; ~ ~ — - h*(an tbc 



*t they may swell away quickly, and attain siae oc ^ 

 any kind will need to be greatly curtailed, as it wu 

 Passed. Bananas showing traits or growing 

 water, and. in the case of the former, it should take 



These should 



poasi 



i«u luanure applied at a fairly high temperature, uive 1 j . {r%1 thai 

 _ T . . . ,le approach to tropical treatment all round, then there need be 

 i u. u> potting them up. These should sooner or later good bul£« T^*mll he produced, and that jhev » «f 

 case a day longer than is necessary, as perish in their incipient stem Strawl>erries potted off and stood tbtckjy* 

 ist season a case of bulbs was de aved in r«,rfc*c __TT P cm . sta S es - btrawpcrncs puuc distance 



transit, and owing to the fibre th season a case of bulbs was delayed in 



quite warm in the centre and mnhf P acked in moist, they had become 



which resulted not «>nl v in unnlT a ° d to P ^owth had become matted together. 

 «lycs were consideraft weT" T ry , troubIc in unpacking, but the bulbs them- 

 aA*tf<-ttcand shaded until tK! ti and after they were potted, had to be kept 



colour 



blanched growth had gai 



„, . — - "*^-w« w aiiouia now uc unuutvi ^ - ~> ,u*r^ to all * 



and if stood in square blocks, a row should be left out here and u to 



room for walking between them, so that each plant may be easily ^"^T^ ,o 

 its need for water. They should now take water freely, and never !*W 



receive 



good 



£TOwn wherever there 



may 



gh 



demand for sweet 



The 



become ury, as mis, and the subsequent w«ci».g • - finr does 



tends to break up the crowns. On the other hand, over-waterj* « ^ 

 harm, indeed newly.potted plants rarely recover ^™"7^IJ«^ 



may just be thrown away if such a thing occurs. -J. C TallacK, 

 Park Gardens. 7 



