716 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 10, 1886. 
ftuit salesman will acknowledge, fine Blackberries will 
always readily command first-class prices. In fact, as 
is evident, with some in pots for very earliest use, 
followed by others planted on a very early warm border 
outside ; after these the ordinary crop, and lastly by a 
few with a north aspect, Blackberries could be gathered 
from early in June, to say the end of November, if 
not before, for it must be remembered that our plants 
of which we now write did not receive, until two months 
ago, any of the attention, position, &c., necessary to 
what would come under the appellation of “ orchard 
house culture.” We should perhaps further mention, for 
the edification of those who have the later and much 
more tender variety, Kittatinny, that a couple of plants 
of this also had exactly the same treatment, but the 
disparity is at once to be seen, for the Kittatinny is 
only just commencing to colour, and instead of growing 
“stocky,” and of pyramidal form, like the Wilson 
Junior, it appears to be of a thin and delicate nature, 
not near so prolific, besides showing that terrible 
disease “rust” which marks this old and infirm 
variety, as likely to prove a heavy pecuniary loss to 
any planter, who, in growing Blackberries, would trust 
to this once fine, but now failing variety. A “Lawton,” 
it seems, was also planted, but being such a late 
variety, appears to be nowhere in the race. — Viccars 
Collyer & Co., Leicester. 
Disqualification at Flower Shows.—Atp. 
692, “R. D.” draws attention to the very important 
question of disqualification at Flower Shows, although I 
do not think him altogether consistent in his treatment 
of the case in the schedule he speaks of having received 
lately, a class for twelve bunches of cut flowers “dis¬ 
tinct, ” with note appended. Had the word distinct been 
left out, there was no need for any note, and the exhibi¬ 
tor could then make up his bunches of as many colours or 
varieties as he preferred without fearof beingdisqualified. 
Where “ R. D.” seems to be wrong in his ideas, is in 
connection with the class so distinctly worded, as 
“twelve varieties of cut flowers, ‘distinct,’” in which 
case, if he found two or more colours mixed as one 
variety, he would not disqualify. I would not draw 
hard and fast liues, where cottagers or amateurs are 
concerned, but in professional classes it would be a 
downright injustice to let pass an entry where no 
heed was paid to distinction between variety and kind, 
species or genera. Surely where a schedule is so 
distinctly worded as that referred to, it would, to say 
the least, be very unfair to let, perhaps, a novice at 
competition, go away with the prize, by staging, 
perhaps, twenty-four or more colours or varieties, 
instead of twelve, before the man who understood the 
schedule, and staged his entry in strict conformity 
thereto. Neither can I support “R. D. ” in his con¬ 
tention that “kind and variety” can be looked upon 
as synonymous terms when used for exhibition purposes 
more than any other purpose, and when white and 
black Grapes are staged as two distinct “kinds” of 
fruit, and no provision is made for such in the wording 
of the class, the exhibitor was quite right in protesting. 
But I can support “ R. D.’s ” decision in his award 
of the prizes for the twelve bunches of stove or green¬ 
house cut flowers, “if” his award was given at a time 
when it was impossible to have cut the Roses from the 
open air ; the same argument must hold good in re¬ 
gard to the other stand, as although not hardy if the 
blooms were cut at a time when they could not have 
been used for outdoor decoration they were certainly 
eligible,— A. Grig or, Fairfield, Aberdeen. 
Cuckoo Spittle. —Your correspondent, “A. D.,”is 
Under a misapprehension when he states that “Cuckoo 
Spittle ” does not injure plants. In the case of such 
rank growths as Pansy, &c., on which the insect gener¬ 
ally does seem to make its appearance at the junction 
between the stem and the leaf, it certainly does not 
appear to hurt the plant ; but more delicate objects 
suffer decidedly. Godetias, for instance, I have found 
attacked at the head, close to the buds ; and it would 
appear to interfere materially with the health of the 
plant, besides making it most unsightly by curling up 
the leaves which it touches. Again on Chrysan¬ 
themums, I have in many instances found it on the 
underside of the leaf, far removed from the stem ; and 
here again the leaves are tightly crinkled up and utterly 
ruined. By the use of the “finger and thumb” process, 
I am glad to say I have been able to get the pest under 
control, and now have very few of the insects about at 
a time, which are easily removed by dint of frequent 
watching. — 1 ' Puzzled. ” 
Vanilla Culture. — I have a Vanilla plant 24 ft. 
wide and 8 ft. high, growing against the wall of an 
Ananassa-house, on the face of which is a trellis, 
holding a layer of moss into position. The plant is 
very strong, and the roots are running through the 
moss, but it flowers very sparsely. What would be the 
best way to make it bloom freely ? "Would it be best 
to hang a roller in front of it and allow a few branches 
to run along it, and if so, should the roller be wrapped 
in moss or not? Any information will oblige.— A. C., 
France. 
-->5K-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES 
Attention must now be given to the stock of plants 
for autumn and winter flowering, as if not given their 
final shift in good time, they cannot be got into a con¬ 
dition likely to give the amount of flower for cutting 
purposes that they ought to ; plants potted too late 
never become thoroughly ripened, and to this, in a very 
great extent, may be attributed a consequent paucity 
of bloom ; the plants may be fully grown, but if not 
well rooted and ripened, well flowered plants cannot be 
expected. All such subjects as soft-wooded Begonias, 
which are admirable for cutting and decorative work, 
Bouvardias, Euphorbia Jacquinoeflora, Centropogon 
Lucyanus, in fact, all of this class should now receive 
a shift into 6 in. pots, and if they have been grown in 
houses so far, I would advise their being removed into 
pits with a south aspect, and where, after being potted, 
they may be kept rather close, and shaded for an hour 
or two at mid-day, until they become accustomed to 
their new abode, after which, let them be freely venti¬ 
lated and kept well attended to in the way of watering 
and syringing, shading only very lightly in the case of 
very hot sun ; by this treatment a stock of thoroughly 
reliable plants may with certainty be secured. 
It will be advisable now to look to the increasing of 
the stock of Souvenir de 1 a Malmaison and Pride of 
Penshurst Carnations. The last named is certainly one 
of the good things, and worth all the care that can be 
bestowedon it. Secure the strongest “grass” obtainable, 
and when making the cutting, be careful that the 
joint is not torn or jagged. By carefully holding the 
base of the cutting between the forefinger and thumb, 
all danger in this respect is avoided. Use soil of an 
open nature, with plenty of sharp sand added, and the 
pots should be thoroughly drained. Insert the cut¬ 
tings round the sides of the pots quite thickly, giving 
the soil a good watering to settle all firmly, after which 
plunge at once in a good brisk bottom heat, and they 
will strike quite readily. If the light is very strong 
where they are plunged, they must be shaded the 
greater part of the day ; and I need scarcely add, the 
hand-lights or bell-glasses covering them must be re¬ 
moved, and the condensed moisture wiped off at least 
every morning. 
Extra shading in the shape of a mat will be found 
of the greatest good to the stock of Cinerarias and 
Primulas, as they suffer terribly from the direct rays 
of the sun ; ventilate and damp freely, or green fly 
will be sure to attack them, and with the former will 
be found difficult to eradicate when in a young state. 
If not already done, lose no time in sowing all plants 
required for spring gardening : ours are all well up— 
that is, "Wallflowers, Pansies, Campanulas, Silene and 
so on. We always prefer to sow in boxes, placing 
them in the frames, where they are kept shaded until 
well up, after which they are gradually hardened off. 
This is far preferable to sowing them outside, particu¬ 
larly in a season like the present, when so much 
watering is necessary. Make a good sowing of Mignon¬ 
ette in 6-in. pots, for autumn flowering. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
"While this intensly hot weather prevails, it will be 
advisable to give extra mulchings to the outside vine 
borders, or they will become dry very rapidly, and 
probably render the finishing of the crops rather 
troublesome, added to which, red spider will be sure to 
make its appearance, causing injury to next year’s 
crop ; if the foliage becomes much infested, take care 
also that the houses from which the fruit is all cut are 
kept thoroughly attended to in the way of watering 
and syringing, let the lights be thrown right open and 
so remain that the wood may become thoroughly 
hardened. So far we have escaped scalding with the 
Lady Downe’s, although we rather expected it, particu¬ 
larly as the sun is so very fierce. 
Be careful to look over the vineries and remove all 
the clusters as they may appear on the lateral growths, 
they will be found especially along the top of the house, 
and frequently escape observation until well advanced, 
of course putting an unnecessary strain upon the vines. 
Look well to the setting of the-Melons as they come 
into flower until the requisite number are obtained, 
when as the fires are out, it will be advisable to have 
the bottom heat renewed. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN 
Care must be exercised, and watering and mulching 
thoroughly attended to, or crops of such things as 
dwarf Beans, salads, and Turnips will quickly go by 
and not be fit for use, and should this weather last it 
will be necessary to make the most of everything. 
Where manure cannot be had for mulching purposes, 
long grass from under trees may sometimes be obtained, 
and will answer the purpose. We have planted-out 
the main batch of Celery, first giving a thorough 
soaking over night to the trenches, and also a good 
flooding after planting, which will hold good for some 
days. The early planting also requires constant 
watering, or it will become pithy ; but always remember 
that whatever is being watered let it be done thoroughly. 
We have not yet finished the planting-out of green 
crops, the weather being so much against the operation, 
but as the plants are becoming very strong, it must be 
taken in hand at all hazard. 
Keep the hoes at work as much as possible, so as to 
destroy all weeds before seeding. Where the Globe 
Artichokes are fully exposed, they will be greatly bene- 
fitted by a good soaking of water ; in fact, we should 
greatly enjoy a night s rain. Let the summer pruning 
and tacking-in of fruit trees be completed as soon as 
possible. In the case of Pears this is a consideration, 
as the fruit, by full exposure, attains a much higher 
colour. Look to the netting of the Cun-ants, or birds 
will play sad havoc with them now that they are 
ripening ; those on walls for late use should be netted 
in good time. Towards the middle of next week will 
be a good time to make a sowing of some good Cab: 
bage for spring cutting ; for this purpose we find none 
to equal Ellam’s Early Dwarf .—Walter Child, Croorae 
Court. 
-- 
ORCHID NO TES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchid Growers Calendar.— The work in 
the Orchid houses at present consists, mainly, in the 
ordinary care of the plants as to watering, cleansing, 
&c. ; the preservation of cleanliness and order in every¬ 
thing about them, and the careful observation of the 
rule to give to each section a shading suitable in texture 
to its likes in that respect (as notes in previous 
numbers). Every week brings to me fresh proofs, that 
for the purposes of the amateur whose houses contain 
many varieties and species, no Orchid house should be 
without a roller blind, unless, in the case of houses 
built under the shade of trees, in which case, Lidias 
and Cattleyas thrive well without further protection 
from the sun’s rays. While always advocating the care¬ 
ful shading of all Orchids, I am not unmindful of the 
harm done by too heavy shading, and the neglect of 
rolling up the blinds as soon as possible after the full 
power of the sun has passed; such neglect induces sappy 
drawn growths, prone to spot, and of indifferent flowering 
capacity. At this season, as at all other times, a look¬ 
out should be kept for plants requiring repotting; there 
are many species now in the proper condition of growth 
and rooting, which were not ready when large batches 
were undergoing the process of repotting. Water 
should be used copiously for damping down in all the 
houses, and in order to eke out the rain-water supply 
for watering, that used for syringing under the stages, 
&c., for the purpose of keeping the houses cool and 
moist, should be brought from a cistern or other 
source outside. Leave half an inch of top and bott< m 
ventilation on all the houses all night, from now until 
the end of summer. —James O'Brien. 
Orchid Portraits. — The last issued part of 
Lindenia contains illustrations of Cypripedium cenan- 
thum superbum, the beautiful hybrid raised by Mr, 
