mvEMBBR 26, I898- 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



\0A 



76Q 



Work for the Week 



COOL ORCHIDS. 



Tndian crocuses, as the deciduous coelogynes are sometimes called, 

 H.B10NES, or 1 orchidsfor supplying flowers at this dull season of the year ; 

 vt cbarmiDg h valua ble decorative plants, but are most useful for supplying 

 they not only m purpose, when gathering ihem, it is be.t to give the 



«ii fl)Wer?, ana ^JT^ni ra *A\U? t"-^™ ih^ vnnna arowth. and bv so 



much longer stem than by cutting. The following— P. lagenaria, 



nrt towers, an they will readily part from the young growth, and by so 



blooms a genue jg,^ ^ than by cuttinga The following— P. lagenaria, 



*** W*na P Reichenbachiana, P. humilif. P. Hookeriana, P. maculata and 

 p> WaHicnian , . yarie alba _ s hould be grown by every amateur, as they are 

 its pretty mur ^ ^ orchids repay us better for the little trouble they give. 

 ^ r^uous orchids, they are often thought to require a good rest after fl >wer- 



this is a mistake, as they are never really inactive, for by the time the 

 jp g} but tui n young shoots from which the flowers sprang will 

 Jowe rs nav ^ ^ from thdr bage a number of sma n white roots, telling 

 ^ve comment t- ^ — ft ^ Under proper treatment these small growths 



1 that this is the time to repot. « . . , 



P h IUp s rone flowering pseudo-bulbs. It is not absolutely n* cessary to repot 

 u hints every year, unless the soil has become sour, once m two years will 

 T and result in the production of plenty of flowers. When repotting, shallow 

 5 nr mns may be used, but for those who prefer to grow their plants suspended 

 P the roof pans are the most convenient, but in either case it is necessary to 

 Th abundant drainage, so that the large quantities of water these plants require 

 Tn in full growth may pass freely through the compost ; over the crocks should 

 fa! nlaced a thin layer of sphagnum moss to keep the drainage clear, and the 

 Loo<t used should consist of equal parts of peat, loam, and moss, with a good 

 Znkiine of silver sand, mixing the whole together. The method of dividing the 

 Lido-bulbs, as is often practised, I do not recommend, preferring to pot them 

 no in clumps with the bulbs almost touching each other, as by potting them in thn 

 manner the tender young roots are not so liable to injur) as when pulled to pieces. 

 After the plants have been turned out, all the exhausted soil removed, and 

 old roots cut away, the pots or pans which are to receive them should be 

 nearly filled to the rim with the compost, and on this the base of 

 the clump should rest, then fill in with the compost, and press it firmly 

 around the bulbs, also filling in between the bulbs with the roughest 

 of the material, or jome nice heads of living sphagnum moss. This business 

 beirg completed, the plants should be placed on a shelf at the warmest end of the 

 cool house, where they will have plenty of light, or better still, if convenient, 

 give them a position in a house a few degrees warmer. Water must be sparingly 

 given for some time, supplying only sufficient to keep the compost just moist; 

 but when the plants are established and start to grow vigorously the amount of 

 water must be gradually increased. P. Hookeriana and P. humilis, having now 

 completed their growths, should only receive sufficient water to prevent the bulbs 

 shrivelling; their flowering season be ; ng January and February, these two 

 jpeces are best grown in the cool house all the year round. 



Our plants of Lselia proestans have been very gay for the past few weeks, 

 some of ihe flowers having lasted four and five weeks in perfection. One half of 

 our plants were grown in the intermediate house, and the other half in a house 

 devoted to cool cypripediums, coelogynes, ly castes, and various other cool orchids 

 that like a temperature two or three degrees higher than that of the odonto- 

 glossum house. Flowers produced by these plants we find come darker in colour, 

 open better, and last longer in perfection than those grown in the warmer house ; 

 therefore, in the future, accommodation will be found for the remainder of these 

 plants in this house. By the end of this month the majority of them will 

 have passed out of flower, and any that were not repotted in the spring and 

 require new rooting material should be attended to in the same manner as advised 

 in ihe spring calendar, as the young roots will now push forth from the base of 

 Ms season's growth and soon enter the new material. As long as the plants con- 

 tinue to make roots keep the compost fairly moist, but when at rest only sufficient 

 water will be needed to keep the pseudo bulbs plump The same remarks apply 

 to lm% pumiU and Loelia Dayana.— E. Shill, New Hall Hey Gardens. 



CONSERVATORY AND GREENHOUSE. 



The last of the forcing roots — lilies of the valley and spiraeas — together with 

 Azalea mollis, lilac, and other things which are required annually for cutting and 

 decoration, are to hand, and in potting each of these up it is necessary to use as c ° v f"° g 



pots as possible ; indeed, there is no gain in having large ones, as the plants >m 

 do not require a mass of soil to root into so long as the roots are regularly supplied 

 *i h moisture ; and this applies to all plants that have been properly prepared for 

 0f cing. The balls should not be reduced, but they may be forced into small 

 (***, using fine soil, such as leaf mould and sand, for working in between the 

 I0cts ' It is useless attempting to force plants which have not been properly pre- 

 Pjjrcd and are not furnished with a mass of roots, and in no case is this 50 forcibly 

 'to* 0 as with roses. Where roses are intended to produce bloom by Christ- 

 ■* the desired number of the most promising ones should be selected and placed 

 ■ gentle heat at once, gradually increasing the temperature as growth develops. 

 ■Jjww is the worst enemy one has to contend against in forcing roses, there- 

 in this must not be allowed to obtain a foothold. The plants should be 

 wed frequently with a mixture of soft soap and sulphur, especially on the 

 ™«Mdeof the leaves. It should be remembered that a low, sluggish atmo- 

 in the house is productive in setting up mildew, therefore both the heating 

 J* ventilating require careful consideration during dull, sunless days, and 

 ^e|ion used in syringing and damping down. Plants that are thoroughly 

 ^^hed in their pots, and which have been forced previously, are the mo t 



• * nable to the treatment, and may be selected for giving the first display. The pots 

 8 crowded with roots and the drainage peifect, weak soot water or liquid manure 



Dnce c 

 he lig 



fcrlvf ■ l " w " w lowers being the desideratum aunng w n u.w. , 



y|uit houses may be utilised, as the plants, being arranged beneath vines or 

 trees, will take no harm for a time, and valuable gatherings of choice buds 



^ -;-vu„ llu iuuls ana ine arainage pencil, wcjak suui waici ui 114^1^ 

 ; s ; ven in a tepid state once or twice a week. Arrange the plants near the 

 that they may have all the light possible, and do not crowd them with other 

 rrP; Roses as cut flowers being the desideratum during the winter months, 



short jointed, and the leaves have remarkable fl rmnfss of texture. Poinsettias are 

 undoubtedly one of our very best winter plants, and well repay for extra trouble 

 bestowed upon them. Potting for the time being will not command much atten- 

 tion, but provision should be made for a more busy season by providing a good 

 store of different composts suitable for various requirements. By bringing fresh 

 cut turf, peat, leaf mould, s?r d. &c , under cover now it will be in readiness for 

 use next spring, when very often the outside store is either frozen or in a cold, 

 .saturated state.— R. Parker, Goodwood Gardens. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



The favourable weather of the last few weeks has enabled outdoor operations 

 to be carried on uninterruptedly. The soil is in good condition at the present 

 time for digging, and therefore such work should be pressed forward as quickly as 

 possible, so that all may be done before severe frost sets in. At the present time 

 falling leaves are a great trouble, and should be cleared up as soon as they fall, 

 for when allowed to lie *mong the plants they soon cause them to damp off ; this 

 is particularly the case with seedlings, such as lettuce, cauliflower, parsley, cabbage, 

 &c, as these being tender and full of moisture are not able to submit to being 

 partially covered. The more such plants are exposed at this time of the year the 

 better will they be able to endure the frost later on. Those who have not made 

 preparations for protection should lose no time in doing so, for though we have 

 had an exceptionally mild season so far it is always best to be well prepared in 

 case of a sudden change. Cabbages have made marvellous progress this autumn, 

 and should the open weather continue for a time it is doubtful if they will with- 

 stand the winter should the frost be severe. In case such might be the case it 

 would be as well to prick out those still remaining in the seed beds to fill up any 

 blanks that may occur. During dull, foggy weather French beans in bloom must 

 have a little extra heat given them, so that the ventilators may be opened a 

 little wider to expel the damp, for unless the flowers are kept dry there will be 

 but few beans set. Where room can be afforded, another sowing may now be 

 made, for during the short days growth is very slow, therefore a much longer time 

 is needed to have the crop ready to gather. Asparagus is often in demand at 

 Christmas, and if preparations are made now by making a hotbed of leaves and 

 stable manure there will be ample time for growth to be made without unduly 

 forcing. The most tender heads aie those grown where there is a free circulation 

 of air, and for this reason it will be far better to plant a few days earlier, so as to 

 allow plenty of time, than to try to hurry growth by applying too much heat- It 

 will be as well to cover those beds intended for forcing with rough litter, in case 

 bad weather should set in to prevent them from being lifted when required Globe 

 artichokes suffer much in some places during winter where the soil is heavy. It 

 is, therefore, a good plan to have the ground covered with a few inches of leaves 

 to exclude the frost, and now that there are plenty falling these could be placed in 

 position at once, which would save any further trouble. Seakale should now be 

 taken up and laid in under a north wall, where it could have a little litter put over 

 it in case of severe weather. When cleared off the ground in this manner it allows of 

 digging being done, which is a great help in many places, for when taken up as 

 required digging cannot be done till late in the season — w n r>».*re„» Mb»mtii 



Park Gardens. 



FRUITS UNDER GLASS. 



Pot strawberries should now be placed in their winter quarters, and if it is 



thought desirable that they should be wintered in frames under gtoss a good light 



position should be chosen for the frames, giving free ventilation both night and 



day, and covering the lights with mats only dining the sharpest frosts. The pots 



should be plunged to the rims in ashes. My own practice is to winter the pin ' 



entirely out of doors, plunging the pots in ashes in an open position aa above 



advised, and leaving them exposed to any weather which comes, and I have never 



found any ill effects arising from such exposure, though many times the plants 



have gone through long, lasting frosts, with the temperature falling well l>elow 



zero nightly. Unless the plunging material is brought quite up to the rims of ihe 



nots there will in severe frosts be some loss of pots, but this is readily guarded 



against as the ashes give all the necessary protection wanted by well-baked pots. 



Growth has this season been carried on much later ihan usual, unh the result that 



the plants now show no signs of being grown from runners obtained from plants 



affected by the great drought, so that matters have righted themselves, and the 



crowns are plump and good. . . v . 



Where the early vinery has an outside border this should have a good deep 



of dry leaves, of which there will now be plenty, and if the vines are 



Wanted outside and led through holes bttefrnm wall the exposed portions of 

 fhe stems should be well protected by haybands, or some other ^c^protecuve 



me sienia d grouing vines by having ihe flow of sap 



S„J method of mrtieg «P hotbeds oo .he «.!)-_ W» borim, tat . deep 



Bear in mind that 



cropping 



for pot vines, bcu * , at lcast f IVC months from the time of starting, to 

 Sweetwater and lla ^ DUr S th are movcd a i ong sl in m0 re slowly than this 



> . t.r ~- ...k.« miiVioH tru-i fact th«» arnuths are 



perfect their crop, : an ^ ^ |00 fast( lhe growlrtt are 



it will be all the beuer ^ leoitUM , Syringing and damping down rfiould not 



spindly and » he ™°" e . darop atmosphere, :though opposed to the |>r >;.< - 

 be indulged in too orora . ^ (hc and js frequetUly overdone, causing 



uc wuiu»~»— „ jv] f,,r the vines and is ire<|uenuy oveniouc, •» 



insect life, is not rea uy g w« .^.^ jf b fM mcitt 



flabbiness of the foliage. , , : „. ■ 



of 

 ■ 



is means. 



ptUt nave devoted one long span-roof pit this autumn to mignonette and zonal 

 ■y^MMM, the same treatment, viz , a cool temperature, plenty of air, and a 

 *a«mth in the pipes occasionally to expel damp, suiting them admirably. 

 fcj^" e no * dwarf in habit and full of bloom, and promise to yield a good supply 

 to fe Te i y - w . eeks ^ come. Weak soot water is the stimulant used, and they appear 

 u »r eM i n lt In writing this calendar I have referred to poinsettias being treated 

 ■. ,;:V:" U5e P'ants, and advised growing them as such, but a slightly warmer 

 tile. \' f , 1S necessa ' r y now to encourage the bracts to develop to their largest 

 **d. ifk ° f the beaut y of these plants is lost, even when fine heads are pro- 



7 are not '"""shed with healthy leaves down to the pots. This is 

 fed by growing them in cool but sunny quarters, where they become 



hence when growth is rea y hc ^ ders<rfIatefhoote , ffom which thc ctl , p has 

 vating or entirely '«n«ffl| ^ ^ wi „ u fnj nexl year » 



vauug w su ch work is nnisnea me uewc. u «... v , — - 



been cut. as the eariin r . rfa ^^-jng out , uc h work i« to keep the exj-oied 



crop. A small but imporu which oeCBaioDt || y |„ d amr >ed during the 



roots carefully covered - w ^ ^ re , aying (h eroott. Rooti of > i nr* 



period which must mo5 ,l y l* found to We tuft and thickened endl 



which are given to snan ^ , lich v ines almost invariably show during the growing 

 resembling the air roou jhou , d b( . wt off at a ^ inl where t h e roots assume 



period. 1 hese thickened 



the normal form. precocious £gs as St John's and Tingo de Mel are 



The tiny fruits ot sue p ^ ^ no n necd [<jn( ,^ ^ 



beginning to shoW .P r t °? rC ; niI operations with wch excellent varieties « thae, 

 felt as to commencing t rc. ^ £ ^ ^ ^.^ ^ ^ fig| ^ , y 



which are not at ai i * houie ^ but the former are not grow-, under the Utter; 

 grapes have to share tne : . ^ ^ {o . ^ {he fi ^ we „ under the «sme 

 each has a portion entire^ ^ , jn a to dirk Je the two I should allow 



treatment^ Uie dur i ng the day than I give to the vines.— J. C TaU^CK, 



the S sa p,,.h Gardtitt- 

 Livermere ram »/•» 



