732 
THE HARDENING WORLD 
July 17, 1886. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
The stock of Cinerarias and Primulas are now quite 
ready for potting on. If the former are left to become 
pot-bound they rarely make good plants, added to which 
it is most difficult when in such a state to ward off the 
attacks of aphis, with this particular plant a trouble¬ 
some pest. The foliage lying flat on the soil, the 
fumes from the tobacco-paper or cloth cannot be given 
in sufficient strength to kill the fly without running 
the greatest risk of scalding the tender foliage. Light 
fumigation on alternate nights four or five times is 
better than a strong dose, shading rather heavily 
during the whole length of the operation, after which 
treat as before advised. We have also given our earliest 
batch of Primulas their flowering shift (6 ins.), and 
these, after being kept rather close for a few days to 
start them, will be treated much in the same way as 
the Cinerarias, and are also grown in a north frame. 
By the removal of the lights at night, the foliage 
becomes much stouter than if kept shut up. We 
always peg the plants at the collar as potting jn'oceeds, 
wdiicli prevents rocking and consequent injury during 
the staging of the plants. I might also add that 
Primulas will not require such heavy sprinklings over¬ 
head as the Cinerarias, or damping and spotting of the 
foliage will be apt to .follow. Give an abundance of 
air throughout the day, with shading according to the 
state of the weather. 
Zonal Pelargoniums which have been flowering since 
early spring should now have a rest, and will be bene¬ 
fited by a small shift. Let them be removed from 
the houses on to an open ash border, fully exposed to 
the sun, remove all flower as it may appear and en¬ 
courage a short-jointed stocky growth, and then when 
introduced to the house again in the autumn, the 
attention bestowed will be amply repaid. A few 
cuttings of all those it is intended to increase should be 
now put in, potting off as soon as struck ; with their 
full foliage these will be found very useful for facing the 
older plants, and will replace the older stock in the 
spring. Show and fancy Pelargoniums being now past 
their best, it will be advisable to remove all the plants 
from the house to some sheltered spot outside, gradually 
reducing the supply of water that the plants may 
thoroughly ripen. We always take off cuttings before 
the wood becomes at all hard, striking them as quickly 
as possible, and growing them on they make good 
flowering stuff in 6 in. pots in the spring, and are most 
useful for decoration when of that size. 
Keep a sharp look out upon the stock of Azaleas or 
thrip may become established and make a sad mess of 
the foliage ; be very careful in the matter of watering, 
and ply the syringe very freely morning and evening, 
and where plants have been in the same pots for a 
great length of time, and are consequently becoming 
exhausted, a watering of clear liquid manure should be 
given to enable them to perfect their growth and be 
well set with bloom. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
With the excessively hot weather, care must be taken 
that the Fig house does not suffer from want of water, 
as the slightest neglect in this respect will cause the 
forfeiture of the crop ; we gave the border of our house 
a good soaking, and the second crop of fruit is now 
swelling away fast, and will come in most useful for 
dessert, though of course they will not be of the size of 
the first crop ; syringe freely, and allow plenty of air 
to circulate through the house during the day, shutting 
up rather early in the afternoon with abundance of 
atmospheric moisture inside ; a good soaking of manure 
water now and again will greatly benefit the crop. 
Take care that the Peach borders are not allowed to 
become dry, and also freely syringe the trees night and 
morning. 
To-day, July 12th, we have quite a change in the 
weather, being dull and rather cold, so we have had 
the fires started to keep the houses comfortable, more 
particularly is this necessary with the Muscat Grapes 
and Melons. Let air circulate freely through all the 
Yineries, so that thorough ripening of the wood may be 
secured, and where there is an abundance of laterals, 
those not carrying fruit may with benefit be pruned 
back to about three leaves, of course this only applies 
to houses where the fruit is ripe, or very ndarly so. 
During the colouring period, in all black Grapes it is 
advisable to encourage a free unrestrained growth. 
Look well to the thinning and training of Melons and 
Cucumbers or they will soon become entangled. We 
hope to plant our late batch of Melons towards the end 
of the week. Take care that the Strawberries which 
were layered out of doors are regularly supplied with 
u r ater, so as to induce them to root as quickly as 
possible, and if time can be spared, prepare the compost 
for potting when ready. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
With the change of weather we are quite busy in this 
department, planting out the remainder of Broccoli, 
Kales, Couve Tronchuda, and other winter stuff ; the 
ground is so hard that we are compelled to use the 
crowbars for making the holes, and we plant also from 
the thick manure as advised last week. The rain we 
have had has made but little impression, but still 
sufficient to enable us to put in a good square of 
Turnips, which will be our last sowing for this season, 
also a good sowing of dwarf French Beans. To-day we 
have sown in boxes Ellam’s dwarf Cabbage, which will 
be pricked out as soon as large enough to handle. We 
hope also to make a good planting of Lettuce within a 
day or two, and also make another sowing, taking care 
that a good pinch of Brown Cos is sown this time in 
case of early autumn frosts ; this comes in extremely 
useful as the Paris varieties are so very tender and 
easily damaged by frost. 
As the Pea crop goes over have the haulm removed 
at once, and Cauliflower take its place. Earth up the 
Celery as growth advances, and give an abundance of 
water to prevent stringiness. If not already done, lose 
no time in cutting all herbs for drying for winter use. 
As the Strawberries are done with have the nets re¬ 
moved and placed over either Gooseberries or Currants. 
Look well to the Morello wall for the birds pay the 
greatest attention as soon as colouring commences. As 
the Boses go out of flower have the plants carefully cut 
over, equally for neatness sake, and also to benefit the 
young growth now appearing, so as to ensure a good 
second blooming. Prune all shrubs where necessary, 
using the knife to single specimens, avoiding formality 
as much as possible. Keep all verges frequently edged 
with the shears and mow regularly. — Walter Child, 
Croome Court. 
-- 
ORCHID NOT ES AND GLEANINGS. 
Dendrobium Williamsianum. —This very 
rare Dendrobe is now in flower with Mr. B. S. Williams, 
of Holloway, for the first time in this country, and well 
deserves the eulogium passed upon it by Professor 
Eeichenbach when he described it in 1878. It was 
shown at South Kensington on Tuesday, and readily 
obtained recognition of its merits in the shape of a 
First Class Certificate. The plant was collected by 
Mr. Goldie in New Guinea, but owing to various 
causes, including an unlucky accident or two, fully 
developed flowers have not been seen until the present 
time ; but it proves to be a gem, and quite distinct 
from any other Dendrobe. The sepals are nearly wffiite, 
the petals pale rose coloured, and the broad well- 
rounded incurved lip of a rich warm purple colour, with 
the margin of a rosy shade of red. A very pretty 
species. 
CirrbcSa saccata, Lindl .—Few botanic gardens 
contain more botanical treasures than the beautiful one 
at Glasnevin, Dublin, and none a more energetic pur¬ 
suer of them than its clever young curator, Mr. F. W. 
Moore. Unfortunately we do not get notice of the rare 
things there in bloom so often as we should like. A 
correspondent, struck by its quaintness, informs us that 
the above-mentioned curious plant is there in bloom, 
one of its long drooping spikes bearing upwards of 
thirty clear greenish yellow flowers, with orange tips 
to the labellums. They are fragrant and attractive 
on account of their dissimilarity from the other things 
in bloom. C. saccata has the habit of growth of a 
Gongora, and produces its flowers in the same manner. 
Cypripedium caudatum Grown Cool.— 
At the meeting of the Floral Committee, on Tuesday, 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., rendered Orchid 
growers good service by exhibiting a handsome specimen 
of the singularly beautiful Cypripedium caudatum, 
which had been grown for five years in an Odonto- 
glossum house, and which, although flowering much 
later than its usual season, proved by the remarkably 
healthy, vigorous character of the growth, that cool 
treatment is the best for it. The plant bore three 
spikes of six flowers in all, and the leaves were of a 
very different shade of green to those grown in the 
warm house. 
-- 
FLORICULTURE. 
Dahlias. —-In some localities, .where the drought 
has been severely felt, Dahlias are not growing kindly, 
they are becoming drawn, and the growth is slender 
instead of being robust and vigorous. The Dahlia will 
take any amount of water when it is growing freely, 
and our advice to cultivators, and especially to such as 
are contemplating exhibiting, is—to water freely, both 
at the roots and overhead ; let the water so employed 
have the benefit of the sun by day, and be sprinkled 
over the plants in the evening. Some thinning out of 
the main shoots is necessary, and such sorts as require 
it should be disbudded ; but this is so much a matter 
of experience picked up by the cultivator, that it is 
very difficult indeed to lay down any exact rule con¬ 
cerning it. It is well to tie out some of the principal 
branches to stakes, that the air may freely circulate 
among them. Earwigs will soon become troublesome, 
and they need to be well looked after ; if once they 
pierce the centre of the swelling bud, the flower will be 
practically useless for show purposes, and a good 
mulching must be given to the plants in order to keep 
the ground cool and moist about the roots. Dry 
weather does not favour the development of good 
Dahlias, hence the necessity for close watchfulness on 
the part of the cultivator. 
-- 
HORTICUL TURAL S OCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural. —July 13th— Boses and 
herbaceous plants, fruits and vegetables were the staple 
subjects at this meeting, and the honours may be said 
to have been divided between them, for they were all 
good, and collectively made a capital little show. The 
principal Rose exhibitors were Messrs. William Paul & 
Son, Waltham Cross, who were awarded a Silver-gilt 
Banksian Medal for a superb lot of blooms, the size, 
freshness and brightness in colour being very remark¬ 
able. Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, also staged a 
very fine lot, and secured a Silver Banksian Medal ; 
while Mr. T. Bunyard, Ashford, was commended for a 
box of flowers of excellent quality. Mr. T. S. Ware 
and Messrs. Barr & Son, contributed between them a 
marvellous assortment of cut blooms of the hardy 
flowers in season, and Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, 
also contributed a goodly display of hardy flowers. 
Orchids were represented by a small group, admirably 
staged by Mr. Simpkins, gardener to R. J. Measures, 
Esq., Camberwell, who took a Silver Banksian Medal. 
Messrs. James Veiteh & Son, Chelsea, contributed a 
singularly fine lot of cut blooms of seedling varieties 
of the showy Iris Ksempferi, cut blooms of white, 
rose and blue-coloured flowers of Campanula calycan- 
thema, and some pretty flew Gloxinias. From Mr. 
W. Gordon, Twickenham, also some cut blooms of 
seven varieties of Japanese Irises, of which General 
Wolseley, Duke of Cambridge, and Incomparable 
had both size and pleasing colours to recommend 
them. Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, showed a capital lot of 
plants of the beautiful Mauve Beauty Stock, and also 
of the Giant Crimson Ten-week Stock, a very fine 
variety. Mr. W. Bealby, Roehampton, showed a cut 
spike of a splendid new Delphinium named Colbert, a 
freely-branched spike of double flowers of a rich red 
wine colour shaded with violet; and the Rev. W. 
Wicks, Shirley Vicarage, Croydon, received a Com¬ 
mendation for some very showy varieties of Papaver 
rhea. Two capital stands of Pinks, such as are now 
seldom seen at London shows, came from J. Thurston, 
Esq., Merriedale, Wolverhampton ; and Messrs. James 
Carter & Co. had a double-flowered form of Silene com- 
pacta with bright rose flowers. 
The new plants certificated were Impatiens Hawkeri, 
from Mr. William Bull, one of the finest of new intro¬ 
duction, the plant being a strong grower and free 
bloomer, yielding flowers of fine size, and of a brilliant 
crimson-scarlet colour, with a lovely blotch of violet in 
the centre (see p. 725) ; Aphelandra chrysops, from 
Mr. William Bull, a very handsome stove plant with 
bold dark green leaves, and the veins boldly defined 
with pale green or lemon colour ; the flowers are pro¬ 
duced on an erect terminal, four-sided spike, and with 
the bracts are yellow in colour ; Oncidium macranthum, 
Southgate’s variety, from Mr. Salter, gardener to 
J. Southgate, Esq., a form larger in size than the 
ordinary one, and the sepals are of a much deeper hue ; 
Dendrobium Williamsianum, from Mr. B. S. Williams, 
a very rare species from New Guinea, noted in another 
column ; Pelargonium, Ivy-leaved, Eden Marchi, from 
Mr. W. Bealby, Roehampton, a very fine, semi-double 
continental novelty, with large flat flowers of a bright 
soft rose colour; Phaius Hiunbloti, from Sir Trevor 
