494 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jane 22, 1893. 
rockeries with dense carpets, pleasing tufts, or have uplifted their 
pretty spikes in the border ; the white Sidalcea Candida has been 
admired with its Mallow-like flowers in long erect branches ; 
Linum flavum with shining yellow blossoms, and many other 
flowers have proclaimed with no uncertain sound how lavish flowers 
are in responding to the care of him who loves them truly, and 
finds delight of the sweetest kind in their company. 
One could speak and write for long enough of the many more 
in flower, but I am aware that Kose shows and other claims will 
press sorely on the space of the Journal, and I have no desire to 
deprive rosarians of their due, but hope they have been and still 
are enjoying the fruits of their anxious care in reaping a rich 
harvest of beauty.—S. Arnott. 
THE WATER SUPPLY OF OUR GARDENS. 
A PERIOD of prolonged drought like the present one brings to 
our minds with irresistible force the advantage, nay absolute 
necessity, of providing gardens of all descriptions with a plentiful 
supply of water. It seems to me that it is only at such exceptional 
times that we fully realise how much we are dependant upon 
water as a prime factor in the achievement of cultural success in 
any department of gardening. No matter how well all other 
details of culture are attended to, a scarcity or too stinted use of 
this indispensable element brings to the level of mediocrity the 
work of able cultivators, who with plenty of water at command, 
would be skilful gardeners. In many instances it is painful to 
see the looked-for reward of long hours of labour, snatched as it 
were from the grasp of the cultivator whenever a temporary 
absence of rain occurs at a period when various plants and crops 
have reached that critical stage of their growth at which copious 
supplies of water make all the difference between success or 
failure. 
These thoughts and lessons have again been brought forcibly 
to my mind by visits to gardens of many descriptions, and by a 
quiet walk among allotments in various localities. The great 
contrasts presented in the appearance of these must leave upon the 
minds of many, beside myself, a vivid impression not soon to be 
forgotten. In some allotment gardens the sight was pitiful to 
behold, as no provision whatever had been made for a supply of 
water, and they were situated too far from the homes of the 
cultivators or other sources of supply to enable them to 
water even on a limited scale. The result was that hundreds of 
plants which had b«en set out after a few slight showers were 
either dead or dying, while other plots of ground which, during 
ordinary seasons would have been fully occupied, are yet practically 
barren wastes, the occupiers having recognised the uselessness of 
planting or sowing in soil almost as arid as the desert sands when 
no water is within reach. Among so much that was depressing one 
promising feature, however, stood out clear and bold, viz., the 
absence of weeds, and general tidiness which prevailed. Surely 
there never was such a splendid season for ridding our gardens of 
weeds, and it augurs well for the future to see cultivators on all 
sides taking advantage of it. 
It was pleasant to turn from the parched and barren garden 
plots above referred to, to a group of others laid out within easy 
reach of the river Avon. Through being thus close to the water 
the soil was no doubt cool and moist in comparison to that in 
more elevated situations, but in addition to this advantage there 
were unmistakeable evidences that the river water had been freely 
used. Although no special provision had been made for conveying 
it to the crops, water carts, buckets, and cans were being pressed 
into service at the time of my visit, with an amount of energy 
not easy to excel. The work was without doubt very laborious, 
but the results achieved in keeping young crops advancing 
steadily, instead of gradually dwindling away or dying outright, 
seemed to give the owners ample satisfaction even now ; but the 
advantage thus gained will be even more apparent later on when 
the crops which are receiving timely attention approach to an 
early maturity. 
Numepus private gardens both large and small at the 
ppsent time differ quite as much in appearance as those pre¬ 
viously mentioned. Speaking broadly, this difference may be 
fully accounted for by the facilities which exist in each for the 
supply and distribution of water. The gardener who is well 
equipped in this respect has no dread of the approach of drought ; 
on the contrary, he knows it to be a time when his productions 
show up with conspicuous advantage by the side of his less 
fortunate neighbours. How often have we wished in vain for a 
spell of bright sunny weather, for the lack of which our English 
climate has been frequently abused. Now, however, that we 
are having sunshine enough to satisfy the most chilly person we 
find the water supply of our gardens has heretofore received too 
little attention, for it is an undoubted fact that were we to receive 
the amount of sunshine the majority of individuals crave for, our 
usual rainfall would be totally inadequate. It is also true that 
given a fertile soil and an unlimited supply of water, the county 
which receives that greatest amount of sunshine brings to maturity 
the heaviest crops. The rainfall of Britain would therefore require 
to be doubled in order to enable us to mature the fullest crops 
our soil and climate are capable of producing during seasons like 
the present one, lack of moisture being the one thing which now 
limits production. This view is fully supported by the experience 
and observation of the writer, and may be made equally apparent 
to anyone who will mark the distinction between plants and crops 
which are now receiving as much water as they require and those 
only receive comparatively a very limited amount, no matter 
whether we seek our illustration in the flower or kitchen garden, 
plant house or vinery. In every instance the season has been a 
grand one for the production of superior results where water has 
been copiously used, and I shall look forward to seeing both fruits 
and vegetables in high-class condition at many of the approaching 
shows. 
One word about water in connection with the germination of 
seeds. On all sides I hear complaints about the patchiness of seed 
beds, and th3 disappointment resulting from the failure of seeds to 
germinate. I doubt not that many seedsmen will be inundated 
with complaints respecting the quality of the seeds supplied, but 
the real cause of failure must decidedly be attributed to the dryness 
of the soil in which the seeds were inserted. With us seeds of all 
descriptions have never come better, as we are happily situated in 
regard to a water supply, and were able to give every seed bed a 
thorough soaking with water just at the critical stage. Having at 
various times contended with the drawback of an insufficient supply, 
we are able to appreciate our present fortunate circumstances in 
this respect. I hope that the lessons taught by this sunny season 
may be the means of bringing about a vast improvement in the 
water supply of hundreds of British gardens, knowing well 
that the energy and skill of many gardeners are sadly hampered 
by having in use only primitive methods of distributing water, 
notwithstanding the fact that the hydraulic ram of present 
times is a powerful and economical invention for effectively 
performing that work.—H. D. 
MaXILLARIA SaNDERIANA VAR. XANTHOGLOSSA. 
As will be seen by the illustration (fig. 89), this is a very fine 
variety of Maxillaria Sanderiana, and when exhibited by Messrs. 
F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, at the meeting of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society on April 25th, an award of merit was adjudged for 
it. The flower is large and showy, the sepals and petals being 
white densely spotted with crimson, deepening to a dull reddish 
shade in the centre. The frontal portion of the lip is fimbriated, 
and a pale yellow shale. It may be interesting to remind readers 
that the type was first seen in flower at the Orchid Conference in 
1885, and was then considered one of the most beautiful Orchids 
in cultivation. The variety depicted, however, is an improvement 
on the flowers of the species. 
Temperature for Miltonia vexillaria. 
Although many growers succeed with this charming Orchid 
in the cool house there is no doubt that better results are 
frequently attained by giving it as high a temperature as most 
Cattleyas require ; but perfect cleanliness and good drainage are 
essential. The first is secured by a constantly moist atmosphere, 
frequent examination for black thrips, and spongings if necessary; 
the second by filling at least two-thirds of the pot with crocks, 
and using only the very best peat, from which all the earthy 
particles have been shaken away, in the compost. This should 
consist of the above and live sphagnum moss, with a few nodules 
of charcoal added. The plants must be elevated 1^ inch above the 
pots, and careful watching is necessary in winter to prevent the 
decay of the base of the pseudo-bulbs from over-accumulation of 
moisture. 
