364 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 6, 1886. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Presuming that the directions given in last week's 
calendar have been carried out as to potting, a word of 
caution may be necessary as to the watering of newly 
potted plants, more particularly in the stove. The 
only water they should receive for a few days will be 
from the syringe, which should be freely used, and 
with the greatest benefit to all the occupants, Orchids 
excepted ; but where these are grown amongst other 
plants, devote one particular part of the stage to them, 
so that they may be free front the deluge. Keep the 
house extra warm, and do not ventilate until growth 
commences, which will rapidly take place now that the 
days are lengthening, and we may hope for more sun, 
which we so much need. 
Look well to the propagating of all autumn and 
winter-flowering plants, such as Eranthemums, Serico- 
graphis, Bouvardias, Libonias, Begonias, Centropogons, 
and last, but still one of the most useful of all, the 
Eupatoriums, which can be had in flower in succession 
from August onward until March, added to which they 
are very useful for cutting. Herbaceous Calceolarias 
will now need attention, our’s have quite filled the 
6-in. pots, and must, therefore, be shifted on at once, for 
should they once become pot-bound when in a young 
state, it is useless to hope for good plants afterwards. 
Give them 8-in. pots, which is the only shift they should 
require, unless huge specimens are desired, when they 
may have another shift later on. Give them a good, 
light, airy position, and as near the glass as possible, 
and be sure that they are never short of water. 
Sow a packet of that most useful decorative plant, 
Impatiens Sultani (the red variety), the white one we 
do not care for, grow them on quickly as they do not like 
being stunted. Also sow at once Carnation Grenadin, 
this we find extremely useful for cutting from, added 
to which the flowers are always in demand for button¬ 
hole bouquets. If the Souvenir de la Malmaison 
Carnations have been wintered in pits, now will be a 
good time to place them in the greenhouse that they 
may not be overlooked in the press of other matters. 
Keep all scrupulously clean. 
FORCING HOUSES. 
The early Vines will now need a lot of attention, in 
fact daily ; do not let the young growth remain touching 
the glass or the tender foliage will be damaged, loop 
slightly but only just sufficient to keep them clear. 
Attend regularly to the stopping of laterals, but leave 
two or three leaves beyond the bunch, so as to allow of 
plenty of foliage. Should they become too crowded later 
on, superfluous leaves can be readily removed, but it is 
far better to have an abundance now than too little. 
With the present bright weather the second house may 
be considerably forwarded without the aid of fire heat, 
by closing early and syringing ; the Vines will become 
gradually excited, and when finally started make rapid 
progress. 
Muscats should now be dressed and the house put in 
order, surface soil being removed and replaced by a 
good rich compost, giving all a good watering and then 
throwing all ventilators completely open, and let them 
remain so until a week or so before starting the Vines 
again. This will be found, in a great measure, to help 
to heal the cuts, and to prevent bleeding. 
With the present favourable weather there will be 
little difficulty in obtaining a goad set of Peaches, a 
light dewing with the syringe all over the trees, early 
on fine afternoons, will greatly benefit the trees and 
do no harm whatever to the blossoms. Cucumbers 
will now make rapid growth, and require more atten¬ 
tion ; keep them regularly trained, but do not stop too 
hard just yet, fruit is now swelling away nicely and 
the plants are clean, so we hope for a good supply of 
fruit to reward us for the care bestowed. 
Melons, if not sown singly, will now need to be 
potted off. Let the compost used, if not too heavy, be 
loam, and pot firm but not too deep, placing a small 
stake to each plant as you proceed ; plant out as soon 
as strong enough. The Fig-house must now receive 
attention. With us this structure is used for storing 
Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and such-like plants ; but 
most of these must now be removed to the late Vinery. 
If red spider was at all troublesome during the past 
season, let the trees be dressed with Gishurst’s com¬ 
pound ; look to the border, and if at all dry give a 
thorough soaking of water, close the house, syringe on 
bright days, and if, after the trees have started, bad 
weather sets in, fire-heat must be applied, for the 
young growths are very tender. 
If there is room, some Azaleas may be left in this 
house to follow on those placed in warmer quarters. 
Strawberries are now pushing up fast, and a dose of 
liquid manure mil help them to throw the trusses well 
up ; ply the syringe freely amongst the plants to keep 
them clean. - 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Let digging proceed as rapidly as possible ; we will 
presume that all planting is finished, so that the banks 
are free to make a good show. It will yet be some 
time before the ground will be in a fit state to be 
planted, as it turns up dreadfully wet. All that is 
necessary is a fine day or two to settle, which can hardly 
be relied upon, seeing that the barometer is so low. As 
soon as possible make a good sowing of second and 
main crop Peas, covering, as before advised, with waste 
potting soil. 
If not already done, select and prepare the ground 
ready for planting autumn-sown Onions and Shallots ; 
they will require a good rich quarter ; also Garlic. 
Let the pruning of Currants proceed as rapidly as pos¬ 
sible, as presently every moment will be of the greatest 
value in seed sowing. Select cuttings if new planta¬ 
tions require to be made ; in fact, it is always advisable 
to have some young trees in stock, both of Gooseberries 
and Currants, in case of necessity. 
If not finished, let the nailing be proceeded with. 
It is time it was done now, except, perhaps, in the case 
of Peaches ; but no further delay is necessary even 
with them. We shall finish all this week, Boses in¬ 
cluded. Where grafts are required take them at once, 
heel them in on a north border with other cuttings, 
where they will be safe. Look to the herb beds ; dress 
spare ground ready for sowing seed or making new 
beds where necessary ; and surface Mint and Tarragon 
with rotten manure. — Walter Child, Croomc Court. 
--i- 
FLO RICULT URE. 
Auriculas in February. —Those who hold to the 
practice of top-dressing Auriculas, should soon take 
the matter in hand. After such a wintry January, we 
may reasonably look for a more genial second month ; 
and there is scarcely another hardy plant that answers 
so quickly to the promptings of genial influences as 
the Auricula. Some of our leading growers have 
pretty well abandoned top-dressing, and there is 
always justification in following such a lead. Still, I 
like to top-dress my own plants, and I am making 
preparations for doing so. For this purpose I make 
up a compost of good yellow loam, leaf-mould, decom¬ 
posed cow-dung and sand. Then I remove about an 
inch of the old compost, without disturbing more than 
is possible the roots near the surface. The plants are 
thoroughly cleansed from any decaying leaves, insects, 
&c. If dry, a good soaking of water is given them ; 
time is allowed to drain ; and then the top-dressing— 
which is used fairly moist — is added, and gently 
pressed down. I also take advantage of the opportu¬ 
nity to cleanse the outsides of the pots when necessary. 
Top-dressing is not so necessary in the case of those 
plants that are potted early, as of those which are 
potted late. They are potted late, because the early 
months of the summer are generally busy ones, and 
there are many things claiming attention. As the 
plants move into growth, air must be given ; indeed, 
it is only when the frost is severe that air is not 
admitted to my Auricula house. The pleasantest 
time of year for enjoying the Auricula is not far 
distant. — R. D. 
- — 
ORCHID NO TES AND GLEANINGS. 
The Orchid Growers Calendar.— Continue 
the re-potting of the cool house Orchids as recommended 
at p. 315, leaving all other than absolutely necessary 
work, in order to get it completed as soon as possible. 
With the turn of the year we now get a glimpse of the 
sun, and occasionally a few hours of really warm genial 
weather ; these welcome periods should be utilized to 
give extra ventilation to all the houses, in order to 
thoroughly purify and change the air in every part of 
them. Human beings who have been confined to the 
house during the bad weather, eagerly seize these op¬ 
portunities of warm weather for brief periods to walk 
forth and enjoy them, and I am sure that many of the 
Orchids in some collections would do so if they could, 
but as they cannot go to the pure air do not let us deny 
it to them, for to them it is the richest food. 
The severity of the weather having abated, the 
heating apparatus must be regulated to keep down the 
temperatures, and where the necessary check cannot 
safely be applied, ventilation must be given in order to 
keep the 
Temperatures to the prescribed limit, which for 
the month of February are— 
Warm House or East Indian, 65° to 70° by day, 
60° at night. 
Cattleya or Intermediate House, 60° to 65’ by 
day, 55° at night. 
Cool or Odontoglossum House, 50° to 55’ by day, 
45° at night. —James O'Brien. 
Orchids on Dead Trees. — I have before 
me a photograph taken on the frontier of Nepaul; 
it is of a woodland dell of the most extraordinary 
beauty. In the foreground stands a varied group 
of trees, each more or less covered with lovely 
flowering Orchids, while apart from the others, standing 
out clear and distinct, there is a dead tree. This, in itself, 
is a perfect picture, having the most striking effect, 
it being completely enveloped from base to crown with 
growing Orchids. This spot, or more correctly to 
describe it, this wild garden of Orchids, -with stately 
mountains rising grandly in the background, forms a 
picture not easily to be conceived, and a fit subject for 
the pencil of a “Turner.” 
The gentleman to whom I am indebted for the photo¬ 
graph, assures me that this district is a veritable home 
for Orchids, the native boys gathering the blooms to 
decorate the rough and uncouth habitations of the vil¬ 
lagers, while others seem to look upon them as we do 
Buttercups and Daisies, destroying hundreds of plants 
as they search for wild beetles. The young men offer 
the more showy ones to the maids of their choice to 
adorn their hair, thus showing their admiration by such 
presents. It is evident from the view that Orchids grow 
there in any aspect, while as to rain “ nature here uses 
the syringe pretty freely, O’Brien.” It is not at all un¬ 
usual for 7 ins. to fall in twenty-four hours in the 
rainy season. 
My friend is sometimes permitted to cross the frontier, 
owing to his being looked upon as a sort of magician, 
from his bearers carrying his scientific instruments, but 
this is a rare privilege. It is said, and perhaps justly, 
that “ one Englishman comes to see, but others follow 
to stay,” and the natives hold an inherent dislike to the 
slightest intrusion on their territory, yet he, in his 
excursions, has seen some rare novelties to be obtained 
whenever that part of the country should be open to 
explorers. On one occasion he was shown an old dead 
tree, the most magnificent sight he has ever beheld ; a 
complete bank of Orchids had grown on the fallen tree 
to about 50 ft. in circumference, and was then in a full 
blaze of bloom. The natives themselves regard this 
tree with a respect almost amounting to veneration, 
it being most zealously guarded. 
“A. F. L.” will see by the above that some Orchids, 
and without doubt, some rare species do grow on dead 
trees. Mr. Sander tells me that in some instances his 
collectors have found some species of Orchids on dead 
trees to be without any signs of animation, but this is , 
not to say it is impossible for certain varieties of 
Orchids to live and thrive unless the tree is also living. 
—M. W. 
Phalsenopsis at Oldfield, Bickley.—The 
Fhakenopsis-house belonging to F. A. Philbrick, Esq., 
Q.C., is always worth a visit, either in the flowering 
season or when but few are in bloom, as the novel and 
healthy culture of the plants renders their inspection 
both pleasant and instructive. Mr. Philbrick and his 
gardener, Mr. Heims, always succeeded well with these 
plants, and as they pursue much the same plau in the 
new as they did in the old house it may be well to note 
it. The Oldfield Pliahenopsis-house is a span-roof with 
rather a sharp pitch, the roof being well shaded outside 
and fitted with diamond pattern wire-work inside, from 
which all the plants are suspended in baskets so as to 
bring them within about 12 ins. or 15 ins. of the glass. 
The house is fitted with au ordinary close staging, 
which is thinly covered with soil and planted with 
handsomely tinted-leaved plants, such as the different 
varieties of Fittonia and Cyrtodeira, and the neat- 
