28 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September, 11, 1886. 
Poinsettias are making good headway, and as the pots 
are quite full of roots, it is advisable to give them an 
occasional dose of weak liquid manure to help them to 
retain as much foliage as possible ; later on they may 
receive more generous treatment. Euphorbia jacquinise- 
flora must also be kept staged thinly to thoroughly 
ripen its wood, if good wreaths of flowers are to be 
expected. The stock of double Primulas will now 
require to be placed on shelves in the intermediate 
house, where they will make much better progress than 
if kept in a cool house ; the single kinds will now have 
their pots well filled with roots, and may be assisted 
with doses of liquid manure according to fancy. Keep 
a good circulation of air in whatever position the plants 
may be placed, as the damp will quickly lodge upon 
the foliage, causing rot and consequent disfigurement of 
the plants. 
Keep a sharp look-out over the propagating boxes, 
and in case of noting failures, replace with fresh cuttings 
at once. The earliest batch may now be removed from 
their shady quarters, and thoroughly exposed to the 
sun. Where Bouvardias are subject to planting out, it 
will be advisable to carefully lift at once, placing them 
after potting iu a heated pit where they can be kept 
shaded and quite close until established. A good batch 
of single Tulips, Hyacinths, and other bulbs should be 
potted without further delay, reserving the doubles in 
each case for the next potting. Treat them the same 
as advised for Roman Hyacinths a few weeks since, 
when at the expiration of about six weeks they must 
be examined, and those which have made sufficient 
growth be removed to the cold pits. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
The anticipated swelling of the second crop of Figs 
has commenced, and we are supplying the trees with 
liquid manure water, that the fruit may be as fine as 
possible ; of course no one can expect it to be so good 
as the first. Next season’s crop will, we hope, benefit 
by this attention by giving us a larger and better supply. 
It will be found advisable to look over the Grapes 
which are still hanging in the succession houses once 
or twice a week, for the removal of any faulty berries, 
if left even for a day most likely several berries must 
he sacrificed. Any shanked or faulty berries will also 
be better removed from the Lady Downe’s Winery, 
the lateral growths be gradually pruned back, so that 
light and air may thoroughly play upon both fruit and 
foliage ; this will greatly tend to long keeping in good 
condition. 
The stock of Cucumbers for winter fruiting have been 
potted on, and are kept in a cool put close to the glass, 
so that they may be as hardy as possible by the time 
they are required for planting out. The Tomatos for 
autumn and winter fruiting have been potted on, and 
are now growing and showing fruit in the early Peach 
house; they are trained to sticks, and can be removed to 
warmer quarters as required to keep up the supply. 
French Beans in the pits, while the weather keeps open, 
will be better if the lights are entirely removed from 
them, if coddled they quickly become drawn and spoiled. 
Prepare as soon as possible materials for making the 
first Mushroom bed in the house. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
The much needed rain in the shape of three most 
violent thunderstorms has given the ground a thorough 
soaking, which we hope will now carry us on to the 
end of the season without further resort to the water- 
barrows. So soon as the ground becomes workable we 
intend to finally earth-up the early Celery, and also 
attend to the late batch by adding another good coating 
of soil. Care must, of course, be taken that the hearts 
of the plants are dry before this operation is performed 
or it will be apt to rot. 
Spring-sown Onions, as a rule, are now ready for 
storing. Where they are roped it will be advisable to 
place them in spare pits or frames, or on the inside 
border of the Yineries from which the fruit is cut, that 
they may quite ripen ; but as we possess a large, dry, 
well-ventilated loft in which to store ours, we simply 
choose a dry day, draw them, and remove the tops at 
the same time. They are then carried to the loft and 
spread out in a single layer, and generally keep sound 
and well. I am glad to say that this season the crop 
is perfectly sound and free from the attack of grub or 
mildew. In case of the seeds which were lately sown 
being attacked by slugs, dust at once with soot or gas- 
lime ; the latter we prefer and always use—in fact, 
have done so to-day. As soon as the Asparagus beds 
required for forcing show the least sign of ripening, let 
that required to give the first cutting be mown over to 
ensure rest. We have cut our first dish on October 
14th, but it is not all seasons which will permit of 
this. — Walter Child, Croome Court. 
-«>*<--- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Potting Cool Orchids. —During the next six 
weeks Orchid growers should, in my opinion, make 
every effort to re-pot or top-dress Odontoglossums and 
cool-house Orchids generally. I have done this at 
different seasons, but found no period of the year so 
suitable as September, or, if August be dull, with 
frequent showery days or nights, it will do no harm to 
begin earlier, especially where the quantity to get 
through is considerable. Many prefer to re-pot their 
plants in February, and if it happens to be a mild 
month, no harm will be done, neither will the young 
growths benefit so much from the fresh peat and sphag¬ 
num moss. Why I prefer September is, first, because 
we have several weeks before severe firing will become 
necessary, the temperature of the houses remaining 
more uniform, and the atmosphere charged with 
moisture for several hours more during the twenty- 
four, than at any other season. The young growths of 
the majority will now he about half made, or in the 
state when they require more nourishment than can 
be supplied by the roots attached to the base of last 
year’s bulbs, and commence to push out several from 
their base to complete the bulb and support the flower 
spike, which will soon make its appearance. Fresh 
compost for these to enter at once gives them the 
chance of drawing a good supply of food during the 
whole period of growth and flowering, which can 
not be obtained until this period is half over, if the 
potting is left until February. 
The first thing is to secure a compost of good fresh 
fibry peat, as free from earthy matter as possible, in 
fact, as good as that used for Oafltleyas, and fresh 
sphagnum moss, which has been carefully picked over 
and washed, to free it as much as possible from dirt 
and slugs. Some add to this sand, broken crocks and 
charcoal, but the advantage of these is questionable if 
not injurious. The only season I used this so-called 
opening material, the plants did anything but so well 
as usual, therefore, I never used it again, and, if ever 
a plant comes under my care potted in such a compost, 
the earliest opportunity is taken to shake it entirely 
out. 
The pots should be well washed and dried before 
using, and the drainage thoroughly cleaned. Fill the pots 
more than two-thirds full of drainage, covered with 
some clean moss. The size which each plant will require 
must be left to the judgment of the operator, but a 
good rule is to allow room for two years growth before 
the bulb will touch the rim of the pot, unless the state 
of the roots is so bad that they can, without injury, be 
got into a smaller size, and allow them room to ramble 
amongst the fresh compost. 
Any sour decayed compost which can be got away 
without danger to the roots must be removed, or this 
will soon get into such a state that no root can live in 
it, and the fresh peat will soon be as bad. Keep the 
base of the plant well above the rim of the pot, and 
place the compost carefully round the roots sufficiently 
firm to keep the plant steady, but avoid pressing it too 
tightly, as the roots like to wander easily through it. 
A few heads of moss should be left above the peat, 
which will soon commence to grow, and give the whole 
a fresh appearance. Clip all loose pieces of moss and 
peat off the surface to give it a neat and finished ap¬ 
pearance. Give a good watering from a rose-pot before 
replacing on the staging, which, together with the glass 
and wood-work, should receive a thorough washing. A 
sharp look out must be kept for slugs, or the young 
roots will be eaten before they can enter the compost, 
and growth severely checked. Keep the house well 
damped and shaded for a time, with a free circulation 
of air (but not so as to cause a draught to be felt) night 
and day. — W. E. W. 
Two Fine Miltonias. —It is a common thing to 
hear Orchid-growers say “I do not care for Miltonias,” 
but they can hardly have in their minds two such 
grand things as those of which we have flowers from 
the collection of R. H. Measures, Esq., at Streatham— 
viz., Miltonia Moreliana atrorubens, with grand flowers 
4 ins. in length, the sepals and petals rich vinous 
purple, and the lip dark rose veined with crimson, the 
area round the column being pure white ; and M. 
spectabile bicolor, with pure white flowers nearly as 
large as the other, the only colour in it being a crimson 
blotch at the base of the lip. Accompanying them are 
the best form of Odontoglossum hastilabium we ever 
saw, with twenty-eight flowers on a spike ; an equally 
extraordinary 0. grande, a fine example of the best 
form of Cattleya Harrisoniae, with seven flowers on a 
spike, and the neatest and prettiest marked form of 
the now favourite Oncidium Jonesianum, which Mr. 
R. C. Fraser, the gardener and Orchid grower, informs 
us grows and flowers remarkably well at The Wood¬ 
lands. 
-—>X<—-- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. 
Grapes and Dahlias were the special features of the 
show held on Tuesday and Wednesday last, and in con¬ 
junction with sundry other subjects of a more miscel¬ 
laneous character, made up an exhibition of an admirable 
and attractive character. In public interest the Grapes 
decidedly took the lead, and the lengthy list of prizes 
offered for single dishes of all the best sorts brought out 
a very good show indeed. The numerous handsome 
bunches staged proved a constant source of attraction 
to the crowds of people passing through the conser¬ 
vatory during the day. Some of the samples had been 
to the Crystal Palace, and were not quite so fresh as 
we like to see them ; but, as a rule, there was not much 
to find fault with. Mr. W. Taylor again beat his suc¬ 
cessor at Longleat, Mr. Pratt, in several classes, and in 
every ease showing superbly finished examples. In a 
good class of Black Alicantes, Mr. Taylor was first with 
a pair of finely-shaped, heavy bunches, good in berry, 
colour, and bloom—in fact, models of what perfect 
bunches should he. A smaller but still very good 
sample from Mr. J. Hollingworth, gardener to J. F. 
Cambell, Esq., Woodseat, Uttoxeter, came in second; 
and Mr. W. Howe, gardener to W. Tate, Esq., Park- 
hill, Streatham, was a good third. 
The Alnwick Seedlings were a very fine lot, and here 
again Air. Taylor was first, with superbly finished 
specimens ; Air. J. Drinkwater, gardener, Farley Hall, 
Cheadle, coming second, with neat bunches and fine 
berries ; and Air. Goodacre third, also very good. It 
was rather late for good Black Hamburghs, consequently 
this was not a particularly good class, though little 
exception could be taken to the winning dishes shown 
by Air. J. Roberts, Gunnersbury Park, Air. Hudson, 
Gunnersbury House, and Air. Spencer, gardener to H. 
C. Aloffatt, Esq., Goodrich Court, Ross. That Black 
Prince is losing favour was seen in the poor entry of 
only two lots, the best of which, a very neat pair of 
bunches, came from Air. C. Goldsmith, gardener to C. 
A. Iloare, Esq., Kelsey Alanor. Buckland Sweetwater 
made a very good class, notwithstanding that there 
were no samples among them equal to those shown last 
year by Air. Allan, of Gunton. Air. T. Lockie, Oakley 
Court gardens, Windsor, who more often heats all 
comers with Alelons and Cucumbers than with Grapes, 
carried off the first award, with fine bunches of a rich 
amber coloured berries ; Air. J. Roberts coming in 
second ; and Air. H. W. Ward, Longford Castle gardens, 
third, in very good style. With Duke of Buccleuch, 
Air. Allan, showing large bunches and large well 
ripened berries, secured the highest award ; Air. Wallis 
and Air. Goodacre comiug next. The popularity of 
Foster’s Seedling was testified by the number and fine 
quality of the bunches staged. With a very perfectly 
finished sample Air. J. Roberts came in first, and there 
was little to choose between the second and third prize 
lots from Air. Aides, AYycombe Abbey, and Air. H. AY. 
AYard, whose bunches might all have been cast in the 
same mould, though Air. Allies’ were somewhat the 
freshest. 
The Gros Colmars were all good, and especially the 
grand sample from Air. Elphinstone, Shipley Hall 
Gardens, Derby, which was placed first; and very fine 
too, were the other winning lots, from Air. Aliles and 
Air. S. T. AVright, gardener, Glewston Court, Ross. 
The Gros Guillaume prizes, went to Air. Ward, Air. 
Spencer, and Air. Aliles, the former showing large'well¬ 
shaped bunches, but somewhat rubbed. GrosAIaroe 
is coming to the front rapidly as a show Grape, and 
Air. Taylor showed it as we have never seen it before, 
very handsome in all respects. Needless to say, lie 
was well first, Air. AA'allis coming in second, and Air. 
Elphinstone third, and both good. Lady Downe’s was 
a large and good class, in which Air. T. Osman, gar¬ 
dener, Ottershaw Park, Cliertsey, was a good first, 
Air. Hollingworth second, and Air) Wallis third. AA’ith 
Aladresfield Court, Air. AAL Taylor again came to the 
front; Air. Bury, gardener, Tewkesbury Lodge, Forest 
Hill, second ; and Air. Goodacre, third. Airs. Pearson, 
not a taking grape, was nicely shown, however, by 
Air. Osman, Air. Roberts, and Air. Wallis, who secured 
the awards. A better class was Airs. Pince’s Black 
Aluscat, very good samples of which, shown by Air. 
Pratt, Air. Horsefield, gardener to Lord Heytesbury, 
and Air. Aliller, Rood Ashton, took the prizes in the 
order named. AATtli Aluscat Hamburgh, Air. Goodacre 
as first ; Air. Cooper, Widmore, Bromley, second ; and 
Air. Horsefield, third, all showing well. The best 
class in the exhibition, was that for Aluscat of Alex¬ 
andria, which brought out some grand dishes. Two 
massive bunches shown by Air. Pratt, came in first ; 
Air. R. Gray, gardener, Chevening, Sevenoaks, being 
