August 7, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
779 
the season after planting, although we sometimes get 
a good picking ; hut by planting in spring we avoid 
serious trouble and inconvenience through the plants 
being thrown out by hard frosts. The ground is not 
trodden at planting, and nothing is afterwards done 
beyond mulching, weeding, and keeping off runners. 
For young plants we always depend on a small number 
planted on a border clear of all others, so that we 
generally succeed in keeping them pure ; we allow 
them to bear for four or five seasons by this treatment, 
after which time they generally deteriorate when a 
change becomes necessary. I prefer the system of 
planting in beds, as no disturbance of the roots by dig¬ 
ging or otherwise takes place, and there is no treading 
and often damaging the fruit as when they are planted 
in lines ; a 2 ft. alley is left between each bed, and the 
whole of the work necessary is done there. I have 
never actually determined, hut judging only by optical 
experience, I think the results of this system are quite 
equal to planting in single lines at greater distances.— 
R. Stevens, Paston, Northumberland. [Mr. Stevens 
has favoured us with a small box of fruits of Marechal 
MacMahon, which came through the parcel post in 
admirable condition, and much impressed us with their 
fine quality, the fruits being large, bright red in colour, 
and of excellent flavour.— Ed.] 
Leeks for Market Purposes. — I find that one 
of my neighbours who grows a good patch of Leeks 
every year for market, this season adopted the practice 
of sowing the seeds in drills in the open ground, just as 
he does Onions. The inclement spring was somewhat 
against the successful germination of early sown seeds, 
but the plants came fairly well, and a good many were 
drawn out of the lines and used for filling up vacancies. 
The earliest plants are now very forward, in fact they 
are much better than they were at the end of 
September last year, for owing to the dry character of 
the season they made but little growth, and many were 
useless for market purposes. Now, an early and re-, 
munerative crop will reward the labours of the 
tiller. Young plants from the seed-beds of Leeks sown 
in the ordinary way are now being put out, and the 
ground being moist and showers falling, they will soon 
draw root and make a good start. The growth of Leeks 
for market, as well as that of Tomatos, appears to he 
rapidly extending.— R. D. 
Ivy-leaved. Pelargoniums. —Anyone in want 
of two good double-flowered Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, 
can scarcely do better than try Eurydice and Emile 
Lemoine. They are quite distinct, the one pink and 
the other red, and both are good growers and very 
free. They belong to the trailing class, and are highly 
recommendable. — Con. 
-- 
FLORAL FASHIONS IN AMERICA. 
At a private luncheon given July 4th at Seabriglit, 
the table-cloth was of pale pink satin—all that was 
seen of it—which was a band 8 ins. wide for the plates. 
The entire centre of the table was covered with the 
gray Gypsophila, that has an exquisitely misty effect. 
In this was laid Baroness and American Beauty Roses, 
so as to shade from the lighter to the deeper colour. 
A Peach-blow vase stood at each cover, containing a 
Rose of each of the two varieties. The grassy Gypso¬ 
phila is not costly, and its elegance in combination is 
unmistakeable. It is used in the most expensive 
arrangements. 
A funeral wreath made, as is now fashionable, in 
crescent shape, brought together at the small ends by 
ribbons and a trailing cluster of flowers, was arranged 
lately of a cluster of white Pea blossoms, and then a mass 
of white Corn Flowers. In the satin sash which finished 
it were long-stemmed Niphetos buds of great size. 
Another wreath 6 ft. in diameter was made for a 
memorial piece which was sent to Guatemala. The 
mammoth circle was composed of the choicest flowers 
obtained from private greenhouses. Inside the wreath 
were seven white doves, each one holding in his beak a 
wreath of Lily of the Valley. The cost of the material 
of this design was §300. I do not know what was paid 
for it. 
The “Lily pillow” is a piece original with Fred 
Gordon, which is ordered freely just now. It is a 
pillow 23 ins. long. It is made up with longiflorum, 
candidum, amazonica, Callas, and Water Lilies ; it is 
festooned between these flowers with fanciful mosses 
and grasses, and is fringed with Ferns and Lily of the 
Yalley. 
The ornamentation of fans with natural flowers is so 
much done that each morning a collection of all sizes 
and shapes are seen in the floral stores, aw r aiting the 
cluster or knot of blossoms. As a rule, a ribbon bow 
is combined with the bunch, which is placed near the 
handle. Feather fans look exquisite trimmed with 
Fern fronds. Small ones are selected [and laid like a 
Vine around the edge. Ordinary Palm-leaf fans are 
susceptible of beautiful decorations. 
A new design for a souvenir is a panel easel composed 
of Faust Pansies. In its centre is a plaque with curled 
edges, such as is seen in costly plates. The plaque is 
composed of blue Daisies, and the under edges curled 
over are of Forget-me-nots. In the centre of the 
plaque is an exquisite cluster of Laurel bloom. An 
hour-glass work-table has been successfully made of 
flowers. It was an engagement gift. The body of the 
table was composed of double white Hollyhocks, the 
top of crimson button Daisies. There were outside 
pockets of Hibiscus sinensis, and at the centre of the 
hour-glass a crimson satin ribbon to presumably draw 
in the middle, the same as when this piece is made of 
cretonne. The “ old oaken bucket” was made for a 
stag party collation given at the Monmouth Beach 
Casino this week. It was worked out in mosses and 
stood on a bed of Water Lilies and Ferns. The bucket 
was of natural size, and had rusty bands of iron.— 
American Florist. 
-->S<-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
The show and fancy Pelargoniums which have been 
out of doors for the past fortnight are now quite ready 
for pruning back. Let this be thoroughly done, or 
leggy and straggling plants will follow. After pruning 
is completed, let the pots be laid on their sides until 
the cuts are quite healed, when they should be removed 
into pits or frames, admitting very little air. Keep 
the plants freely syringed, but avoid giving water until 
growth commences. Shut up early in the afternoon, 
so as to secure as many breaks as possible from the 
stools. This is of the greatest consequence with the 
early-flowering section, because stopping of these cannot 
be practised, that is if the plants are required to be in 
flower in February and March. With the general 
batch a stopping is, as a rule, made in February, 
previous to the plants receiving their final potting. 
As soon as the cuttings which were lately put in have 
struck root, let them be potted off singly into small 
60’s, and encourage them to make as rapid a growth as 
possible, stopping as desired. 
The stock of zonales for winter-flowering must also 
be well attended to. Some prefer to keep them under 
glass all through the summer, and where a very airy, 
light structure can be afforded, it is, perhaps, as well. 
For our part, we always keep them out of doors on an 
ash border fully exposed, and the plants make a firm, 
stocky growth, so necessary if bloom is to be expected. 
Keep all the trusses pinched-out as they may appear, 
and if the plants are w T ell rooted and require very fre¬ 
quent waterings, an occasional dose of liquid manure 
may be given, say, once a week, always taking care 
that it is perfectly clear. 
The layering of Cloves and Carnations must now 
be looked to carefully; clean off any dead “grass ” from 
the base of the cuttings, and place a good layer of pre¬ 
pared soil round the stools, into which the layers must 
be pegged after being properly cut; they will quickly 
callous, and may be relied upon to give an abundance 
of flowers next season, which will be altogether finer 
and of better quality than those from the old plants. 
Where the different kinds of Pinks are grown in beds 
they may be divided later on, and planted in small 
tufts on prepared beds, root readily, and are much less 
trouble than if propagated by pipings. The varieties 
“ Lord Lyon ” and “ Hybrid Rose,” are hardly amen¬ 
able to dividing, and must therefore be propagated in 
the usual way; the last named is particularly free- 
flowering, and most useful early in the season. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
It will be advisable where lifting or planting of the 
earliest Peach trees is contemplated, to prepare compost 
for the purpose, throwing into a heap which should be 
turned once or twice before use, particularly noting as 
the work proceeds if there any wire-worms in the loam. 
They may be easily trapped by placing slices of Carrots 
here and there around the heap, which must be looked 
to morning and evening ; by this means much annoy¬ 
ance is avoided. With the early trees lifting may be 
done at once ; that is, if the trees are too gross they will 
then receive a check which will cause them to he more 
fruitful, but if not healthy I would advise that they be 
left until later on, when the sun has less power than 
at present, or they will hardly survive the operation ; 
shading for a time in any case is absolutely necessary, 
and the trees should he freely syringed three or four 
times a day to keep the foliage as fresh as possible, and 
so get the roots into action in the new soil, or forcing 
next season will be quite out of the question. 
We have given the Lady Downes and Muscat vineiy 
borders inside, a good soaking of water, and which in 
the case of the latter will last for a long time, as we 
shall mulch the border with straw, to prevent evapora¬ 
tion, and also help to do away with frequent dampings, 
which is necessary if good colour is desired. Let the 
Yineries now be all freely ventilated, keeping them 
open until quite late in the evening : no good purpose 
can now be secured by early closing, except in the 
front of the Muscat house. If by any means, as is 
frequently the case, spiders infest the clusters of fruit, 
they may be readily dislodged by a light fumigation 
of an evening, the man employed in the operation 
moving about the house, and killing them as they 
lower themselves towards the borders ; a second appli¬ 
cation generally clears them out. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Take a final look through the different squares of 
winter Greens, removing any that may have grown 
club-hearted or blind, and re-plant from those in the 
seed-beds. This is necessary, particularly with some 
kinds of Cauliflowers, which, in a dry season, are very 
disappointing in this respect. The ground which has 
been occupied by the seed-heds should then be cleared, 
a dressing of any thoroughly decomposed manure be 
given, and be dug ready for the sowing of winter 
Spinach, or pricking-out of Lettuce or Endive. The 
ground must also be prepared, if not already done, for 
a sowing of Lettuce, Onions, Cauliflower, and Cabbage ; 
it is next to useless to sow at this season on recently- 
dug ground. We are making use of a warm border 
from which early Potatos were dug, and which is in 
good condition. 
Shallots were lifted as advised, and are now quite 
ready for storing : they are a good sound lot. Garlic 
should be treated in the same way, but keeps better if 
bunched and hung up in some airy loft. Keep the hoe 
well at work among all crops, so as to ensure a loose 
surface and the destruction of any small weeds. Scarlet 
Runners will be benefitted by a liberal mulching and 
watering if the weather continues hot and dry. The 
last sowing of Turnips will shortly be ready for singling ; 
they are a good plant, the stormy weather greatly 
assisting in the production of a good plant . — Walter 
Child, Croome Court. 
-- 
ORCHID NO TES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchid Grower’s Calendar. —Many of the 
deciduous Dendrobes will now be finishing up their 
growth, and each in their turn, as they show that the 
growths are fully made up and hardened to the point, 
should he removed to their resting quarters. Pleiones, 
too, which have been briskly grown, will now, by the 
decay of the tips of the leaves, indicate that their 
resting time has arrived, and they should be put into 
drier and airier quarters at once, even although the 
pseudo-bulbs do not seem quite finished, as they will 
increase in size while the leaves are falling if they have 
a little water given them now and then. 
It is better, where convenient, to assign a cool, airy, 
light house solelj- for the resting plants which require 
drying off, as they can be much better attended to 
when together, and a little water given to any requiring 
it to prevent shrivelling, which is always hurtful. 
Ltelias and Cattleyas want well ventilating and light 
shading, in order to ensure a good well-ripened growth, 
to pass over the winter. Calanthes of the Yeitchii 
section should now be briskty pushed on in a warm 
shady house where a little weak liquid manure should 
be given them until the bulbs are at their largest and 
the foliage begins to turn. Ccelogyne cristata and its 
