August 14, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
133 
with them into the fresh pots. If the plants are unduly disturbed 
at their roots, such as is necessary when the whole of the old 
compost needs removal, they are certain to assume a sickly appear¬ 
ance. If repotted carefully they will grow without a check. The 
main body of the compost should consist of peat fibre used in 
lumps, and charcoal, with a little living sphagnum on the surface. 
L.elia anceps. 
W fea k pieces of the various forms of this Orchid are longer 
•growing into a flowering condition than is the case with many 
species. Beginners would do well to start with good healthy pieces 
when their culture is comparatively easy, provided they do not 
place too much material about the roots and over water them. 
Plants with strong pseudo-bulbs will show flower spikes with their 
new growths. Watch for slugs, which are particularly fond of 
them, and aphides, if any exist in the house, are certain to establish 
themselves upon the plants. The best method of eradication we 
have found is to lift the plant down and place a soft cloth round 
it, and then tap the plant sharply over a shallow vessel containing 
a weak solution of tobacco water. Any insects resting on the 
cloth can then be conveyed outside ; sponge the growths after¬ 
wards with tobacco water. 
Dendrobium Brymerianum. 
The pseudo-bulbs have finished lengthening out, and the plants 
•should now be arranged at the coolest and lightest end of the 
structure to thoroughly ripen them. During the whole of the 
season these plants have given trouble by the attacks of a small 
yellow aphis. Lifting the plants down carefully, and dipping 
them in a weak solution of tobacco water, has been effective in 
destroying them. D. crassinode is turning yellow, and will be 
gradually exposed to full sunshine. The plants are being hardened, 
and will then be placed in a moderately cool house, where they can 
enjoy a good circulation of air, but will not be suspended nearer 
the glass than 2 feet. This species, during the process of ripening, 
will bear fully double the sunshine of D. Wardianum, D. primuli- 
num, and others. 
Orchid Pays. 
Some of the “ patent ” fancy pans that have been introduced 
during recent years, and said not to go green, are ten times more 
trouble to wash than ordinary pans and pots ; in fact, they cannot 
be washed clean. Plain pans and pots burnt hard are the best ; 
they are a long time before they turn green, and if not neglected 
are easily washed clean. Those full of various shaped holes and 
fancy markings on the outside cannot be washed clean, and even 
if the outsides are clean the holes and crocks which show through 
have a filthy appearance.— Orchid Grower. 
WATERING. 
Where there is an abundant water supply, with means for dis¬ 
tributing it quickly where wanted, at no season of the year will it be 
found of greater usefulness than at present. Assuming that last 
winter was dry, and in most districts it was, and that all the rain that 
has since fallen has been sufficient merely for the wants of the moment, 
those who are in a position to apply water abundantly and cheaply 
should not hesitate to soak any such crops as Peas coming into 
bearing, Cauliflowers, Vegetable Marrows, Celery, Parsley—especially 
where maggot-eaten—and all such young crops as Spinach, Lettuces, 
Endives, and Cabbages for autumn use. Fruit trees on south 
exposures, such as Apricots bearing heavy crops, will be greatly helped 
if well watered. So will Peaches, and a'so young Apple trees bearing 
crops. Plums and Pears, which are generally wanting in fruit, will 
perhaps be as well without water, but over-dryness, even in such cases, 
is inimical to the next season’s crop. 
Among flowers, Carnations are greatly helped by a good soaking 
in dry weather; the blooms come larger, last longer, and the supply 
is longer continued. Gladioli, Dahlias, Phloxes, Pentstemons, 
Calceolarias, Lobelias, Begonias, and Chrysanthemums are other 
flowers which should be well supplied with water. Marguerites, 
Pelargoniums, Sunflowers, and Marigolds are examples of those which 
may be passed. 
Grape Vines at this season are not uncommonly allowed to suffer on 
account of a stinted supply of water at the roots, and the same remark 
might well be applied to Peaches grown under glass. Weekly water¬ 
ings are not too often for either, at least until the middle of September 
is past. There is no better method of keeping the trees and Vines in a 
clean healthy condition, and of obtaining well coloured fruit, with, 
of course, the unstinted ventilation which can be given at the present 
season. 
All plants intended for winter flowering, such as Bouvardias, 
Pelargoniums, Chrysanthemums, and foliage plants, such as Crotons, 
Dracaenas, &c., will also take large quantities of water with continued 
surfacings of manure. We have also begun to surface dress with soil 
Chrysanthemums which have shown signs of exhaustion. It is quite 
possible we may have some weeks of weather too dry for the wants of 
the trees and plants mentioned above, and the application of water 
will be found to be of the greatest possible advantage. 
When cold nights begin and much rain falls watering must cease in 
most cases, and indeed it is sometimes advisable to allow things to 
become rather dry about the end of September in order to help to 
secure a more profuse crop of flowers, &c., later in autumn. Just now, 
however, plenty of water is in demand.—B. 
OLE ARIAS. 
Over eighty species of the genus Olearia, one of the numerous 
groups of Composite, are known to botanists, but scarcely a dozen are 
found in gardens, and still less are generally valued for their ornamental 
characters. Two of the best known are Olearia, or Eurybia, Gunniana, 
and 0. Haasti, both with abundant white flower heads of shrubby habit, 
FIG. 18.— OLEARIA STELLULARIA. 
and hardy in many districts, the former, from Tasmania, requiring 
protection in exposed positions, and being rather more tender than the 
New Zealand 0. Haasti. When in flower these shrubs are exceedingly 
ornamental and form conspicuous objects on a rockery or in a border. 
Another Olearia, 0. stellularia, was shown from Kew at a meeting of 
the Koyal Horticultural Society on April 8th this year, and a spray of 
this form depicted in fig. 18 gives a good idea of its character. The 
flowers are starry in form, white, clustered towards the joints of the 
branches, the leaves small and closely set on the stems. The majority 
of the Olearias are natives of Australia, and the others are distributed 
through New Zealand and Tasmania. 
PEAS. 
This year has been very favourable to Peas, and having given a fair 
trial to several new varieties, perhaps your readers may like to know the 
results. Sharpe’s First Early, Laxton’s Earliest of All, Early William, 
No. 1, and Alpha composed the first batch. Earliest of All, sown ten 
days to a fortnight after Sharpe’s First Early, beat the latter by just 
