DECEMBER 10, 1898. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



COOL ORCHIDS. 



Cold weather having now set in more fire heat will be needed in the cool 

 houses, but the temperatures this month will reach their lowest points, and should 

 be as follows : Odontoglossum house, 45 to 50 degrees by night and 50 to 55 

 degrees by day ; masdevallia house,'48 to 50 degrees by night and 52 to 58 degrees 

 by day. The object of every cultivator should be to manage with the least amount 

 of fire heat possible ; rather let the temperature fall a few degrees than have 

 the pipes excessively hot. On the morning of November 22 our outside ther- 

 mometer registered 10 degrees of frost, while the temperature of the odonto- 

 glossum house was 45 degrees ; this was followed a day later by a severe 

 snowstorm and cold, cutting winds — a sudden change, indeed, after such a long 

 spell of mild weather. In such very cold weather the lower portion of the roof 

 and ends of the houses should be covered with Archangel mats, pieces of sack- 

 cloth, or any material that will result in a difference of five to eight degrees in the 

 warmth of the house, for by so doing less fire heat is necessary, a saving of fuel 

 is effected, and at the same time a much more healthy condition within the house 

 is maintained* Whatever is chosen as a covering should be so arranged as to be 

 quickly taken off or put on. If Archangel mats are used the ends should be 

 neatly tied, and two or three mats be sewn together, as these may then be easily 

 rolled along the lower parts of the roof at dark, and taken off again at 

 daylight ; then in wnHy weather they may be made secure by laying strips of heavy 

 wood upon them, or by strained cords. If during the night they become wet or 

 frozen they should be thawed and dried before use again. With regard to damp- 

 ing, once or twice a day will be sufficient, according to the fire heat in use, venti- 

 lating on all suitable occasions, if only for a few hours during the middle of the 

 day, and always allowing a little air on the leeward side of the house, except when 

 the weather is very severe. Should the weather turn mild again, and very 

 little heat be required from the hot- water pipes, then little or no damping on some 

 days will be needed, as the air which can be admitted freely through the 

 ventilators is fully charged with moisture at this season. 



Masdevallia tovarensis is now in bloom, and its snow-white flowers, which 

 appear well above the green foliage, are very acceptable at this dull season. The 

 plants should be kept in the coolest part of the intermediate house, where the 

 flowers remain fresh for several weeks. If the current season's spikes are allowed 

 to remain on the plants they will produce blooms again next year, but it is better 

 to remove them after the flowers fade, as when allowed to remain they some- 

 times weaken the plants. Care must be taken in watering during the winter, as 

 over-much water at the roots causes the loss of many leaves. Trichopilia fragrans 

 and T. laxa are two other very pretty orchids now in flower, and well worthy of 

 cultivation on account of their delicious perfume. These plants are best grown at 

 the warmest end of the odontoglossum house, and sufficient water should be 

 afforded them to keep the compost just moist while they are in bloom, after which 

 they should be kept moderately dry until growth recommences, when they should 

 be repotted, using well-drained pots and a compost of equal parts peat and 

 sphagnum moss. When potting keep the plants well raised, so that there will 

 be no danger of water lodging in the young growths, for if this happens they soon 

 turn black and decay. After repotting afford a light position, and give water 

 sparingly until root action becomes brisk. — E. Shill, New Hall Hey Gardens. 



CONSERVATORY AND GREENHOUSE. 



AiMONg winter-flowering plants few prove more welcome than violets, both 

 single and double varieties. Daily gatherings of these, if only in small quantities, 

 are highly appreciated at midwinter; neither are such difficult to obtain with 

 ordinary convenience and careful attention in the way of ventilation, &c. It is 

 of little consequence now how strong and healthy the plants may have been when 

 placed in their winter quarters last September. A close watch must be kept on 

 th ^ a ^ ts to ensure their maintaining a supply of their fragrant flowers through 

 th ? sun ' ess days. Damp and mildew on the one hand and red spider on 

 be other are eviis the grower has to contend with and guard against. To check 

 ne former plenty of light and ventilation is imperative, as a low, sluggish 

 atmosphere is not only sure to set up mildew on the foliage, but what few buds do 

 snow Jail to open. It is only during inclement weather that the sashes should be 

 T>sed, it being better to draw them off entirely whenever possible. Where the 

 Plants are growing in heated pits the hot-water pipes may be slightly warmed 

 uriog damp or severe weather merely to keep the atmosphere buoyant and dispel 

 oisture. Bouvardias, especially the double varieties, will now be furnishing 

 Dl^T su PpKes of cut blooms, and will continue to do so for some weeks if the 

 P ants are kept in a fairly warm greenhouse and new growth from the base 

 buM^ w T hese su cker-Iike shoots often produce the finest trusses of bloom, 

 and h u Ceding at th e ro °ts is necessary, and, of course, it is only well-rooted 

 a Healthy plants which can be so treated and yield a good return. 



heat t matl - 0nS reVel in a light ' airy house ' but k is necessary to apply a little fire 

 ta t0 ^^lst the flowers to develop. This, together with less ventilation, necessi- 

 ties f k fomigation occasionally to check green fly, which soon attacks the 

 sweet] ^ung growth and checks their progress. It is ju t now that the 

 shad y * SC ^ ntec * mar guerite section proves so valuable for cutting. Flowers of all 

 ^es, and only a small percentage of single ones, are obtained from a packet of 

 ?arie own the previous spring. Some, indeed, are so fine that they equal named 

 from tree sect i° n > anc * are worthy of propagation, but by securing seed 



taking le Source ft hardly becomes necessary to go to the extra trouble of 

 a po ° f i lU ! ngs ; though, instead of throwing the old plants away, we have found 

 0ut * f jj a P lan to select just the best, place them in a cold frame when they pass 

 border *th anC * them on in the spring. The pots may be plunged in ordinary 

 ti e( j to S fol . lowin 8 summer, where they make free growth, which can be loosely 

 give a w ^l?*"* 8 " They can be lifted again in autumn, when they commence to 

 *o retai k ° f bloom directly they are placed under glass. It is not desirable 



The P, ^ DtS after the second >' ear - 

 cutij 02 Se ^?£ is once more with us when lt ls necessar y to select and put in some 

 h*j t A dlff erent varieties of chrysanthemums. An ordinary cold frame often 



cutti 0 g d ? Sed for tllis P ur Pose ; indeed, nothing could be better, providing the 

 ^ v erin if re ^ ept n ^ ar tbe £ lass » and the weather does not necessitate extra 

 to 8*ther ' tk 0 ^' °* course > keeps the interior in darkness, sometimes for days 

 stag e in th bet ter plan is to make a temporary shallow frame on the side 

 nc * suffe f 6r ^ enhouse > covering it with panes of glass. Here the cuttings will 

 will be / [ Want of ^Sht y they can be attended to in all weathers, and there 

 varieti es eW Ses » which is most important at all times, but more so when new 

 most Dlanfe a( *ded, and for which a good price has been paid. From now onwards 

 win fir St D jf rec l uir ed for the decoration of dwelling-rooms and the conservatory 

 co mme hav etogo through a slight process of forcing. It is much better to 

 k^her tern % operations in good time, so as not to subject the plants to a much 

 ^ s a rule t>f ratUre * an * s real, y necessary for them to be ready by a certain date. 



tne less fire heat and humidity they receive the more substance there is 



in the bloom, and the longer it lasts in a good condition either on the plants or in 

 a cut state. Suitable green foliage for arranging with cut flowers is not always 

 plentiful during the winter unless the stock of fern is cut hard. To save this 

 ordinary asparagus seed should be sown at once, either in shallow boxes or small 

 pots. Place in gentle warmth, and when the young plants appear they should be 

 arranged near the glass. This is an easy way of providing suitable material for the 

 decorator, and being light and graceful it can be used in various ways with 

 pleasing effect.— R. Parker, Goodwood Gardens. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



The wet weather of the past week has prevented working the land where the 

 soil is heavy, but there is ample work in other quarters requiring attention. The 

 leaves remaining longer than usual before they fell has prevented them from being 

 collected for making hotbeds, but as they have now fallen they should be brought 

 together for that purpose before they decay. Leaves are much more useful for 

 making hotbeds if gathered dry, as they then retain heat much longer and do 

 not rot so soon. At this time of the year it is necessary to have a greater bulk, to 

 maintain the requisite warmth for forcing, than in the spring, when the days are 

 longer and the sun has more power ; it is therefore of the utmost importance that 

 the materials used be thoroughly mixed by turning them over two or three times to 

 cause the violent heat to pass off. Since the employment of hot water for bottom heat 

 the same amount of care and attention has not been paid to the preparation of 

 materials for hotbeds, but for forcing vegetables there is nothing so congenial to 

 growth as a gentle warmth generated by manure and leaves. 



Where delicate carrots are in request very early in the season the seed must 

 be sown at the present time, as the crop will not stand too much forcing. The 

 soil used should be moderately dry when put on the hotbed, and should be of a 

 thickness of at least six inches, which should be made fairly firm previous to the 

 sowing of the seed. If sown in drills these should not be more than four inches 

 apart, as many of the roots will be drawn for use while they are small ; this will 

 allow more room for the others to develop. Parisian Forcing Gem, Inimitable, 

 and those of that class are more serviceable, as they make up quickly and do not 

 require much depth of soil to root in. Some recommend sowing radishes amongst 

 the carrots, but this is a mistake, as the broad leaves of the former overcrowd the 

 latter and cause them to be drawn up spindly ; better by far have a light or two of 

 each than sow them together. Of radishes there are numerous varieties suitable 

 for sowing on hotbeds, but those making the least foliage should have the preference, 

 as they do not take up so much room ; and, as they are drawn when young, a 

 greater bulk can be had from a limited space. French beans in pits that are not 

 well ventilated will now need constant attention, for during such damp weather as 

 we have experienced of late it is difficult to persuade the blooms to set ; for this 

 reason air should be admitted on all favourable occasions to dry up the damp. 



Rhubarb roots should be taken up and stored in a convenient place where they 

 can be covered with litter to protect them from severe frosts, for it sometimes 

 happens when the ground is frozen hard the roots cannot be lifted when required. 

 Fresh batches of seakale should also be introduced into a gentle heat to keep up 

 a supply. Roots in the open quarters may be taken up and laid in under a north 

 wall, covering a portion with litter that they may be in readiness at any time 

 when required. During bad weather, and where room can be provided, all the 

 early potatos should be stood on their ends in shallow boxes. The sets ought not 

 to be unduly excited unless required for forcing, as the more robust the growth 

 the better the results after planting. Pay particular attention to blanching endive, 

 chicory, and other salad stuffs.— II. C. PRINSEP, Buxted Park Gardens. 



FRUITS UNDER GLASS. 



The time is now fast approaching when those who have to provide as great a 

 variety of fruits as early as possible in the year will find it necessary to commence 

 operations in earnest. I have already dealt with some of these, such as grapes, 

 peaches, and figs, but these are probably the easiest of fruits to deal with, and 

 others will be wanted. Cherries and plums may occupy one house, as their treat- 

 ment is identical, and the earliest crops of these are generally taken from pot 

 trees, a convenient method, as by its use ^ greater variety may be had from one 

 house, the various sorts grown coming on in succession to each other. Slow and 

 sure must be the policy with these, as they are both particularly impatient of much 

 fire heat ; therefore it is better to start slowly early in the season than to be 

 obliged to drive them later. Both, too, are very subject to aphides, so cleanliness 

 in the house is imperative ; all the walls and glass should be subjected to a thorough 

 cleansing before the trees are brought under cover. The trees will pay for a good 

 top-dressing of rich compost ; first, the top soil should be removed down to the 

 roots and the new material rammed firmly over them. Commence forcing with a 

 minimum temperature of something under rather than over 4° degrees, and 

 allow a rise to about 55 degrees with sun heat. The trees may be syringed 



' ' mild weather this may be repeated in the after- 

 doDged beyond the bud stage. Keep a constant 



daily in the mornings, and in 



look out ht aphides, as borne of these will probably be found lurking round the 

 buds even before the latter burst, and they are then easily dealt with. See that 

 the roots are in a fairly moist condition, as they must on no account become dry. 

 a i.-^i- . n «MUhnn chnnld he given earlv on the mornincs of brnznt days to 



to 



mana 

 Ilericart 



poor things from a flavour standpoint 

 good 



aSmentThroughout. For this work I still stick to the old favourite Vicomtesse 



;4rt fie Thurv which is one of the most certain of croppers in pots, and 

 icart de inury, whm. a A „ botbed consisting nrin«. 



equal to any in point of flavour. 



ice of the glass 

 stood thinly en 



? n nrfvent crowding, and if the bottom ne« tnus given is aixjui 73 ucg.^w, wm.c 

 LCSSwaftb! house does not exceed 5 5 <^'<*». the roots w.I become 

 f- TC^ih* tons move, and this will tend to produce strong and sturdy flower 

 aC ^ bC Of course P the house should be a lighl one, with well cleaned glass. 

 &S mpor ant h ng in strawberry forcing 2 any time is that the plants shall 

 niver Ke dry at the roots ; the atmosphere of the bouse, too, should be kept 

 ■fS 7 n tnthr time of flowering. Before starting the plants it ts wise to dip 



present 



hich will be contained in the mixture will also 



them into some ai 



u 11 th %°JirSnr* e ffect on t'cd spider. As soon as the plants _ — ». 



h T ZZ ESS buds keep a sharp eye on them for green-fly, which, according to 

 aDd %Z crLise to be Very plentiful during the coming season. To check these 

 JapSise the Thouse once a week with one or other of -the nicotine vaporisers on the 



mar rS'h on all work of pruning, washing, and tying peaches in late houses, as 



v iJaht to be completed before the end of the year. I may again repeat 

 such work ougbt_to be COC P^ ^ ^ in / ariab , produccd b y thin- 



trained trees, " 



troubles in the future. —J 



perfluous wood or spurs is only to court 



Livtrmere Park Gardens. 



