12 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 4, 1886. 
this time it will be found that most of the bulbs have 
started into growth. Give those selected for potting 
on a good soaking of water a day or two previous to the 
operation, and be cautious that the pots used are 
smaller than those used for summer flowering, or the 
probability is that plenty of good foliage will be ob¬ 
tained, but little flower. 
Chrysanthemums will now need the greatest atten 
tion that is if anything like a good show is to be ex¬ 
pected. The pots will now be filled with roots, and 
unless frequent feeding with liquid manure is resorted 
to, the greater part of the foliage near the base of the 
growths will die away, and the plants as specimens be 
greatly disfigured. This can only be avoided by high 
culture in the way of supplying stimulants at least at 
each alternate watering, and varying what is given also. 
Clay's Fertiliser we find one of the most reliable arti¬ 
ficial manures. This used with, say, guano and sheep, 
cow, or deer-manure, will be found to produce satis¬ 
factory results. 
I would also add a word or two as to the stock of 
Begonia Froebelli, which we find one of the most 
showy and useful of all the Begonias for autumn work, 
whether for decoration or for cut flowers. We have a 
nice batch of plants, some of which we wintered ; the 
remainder were raised from own seed this spring. 
The greater part of them have lately been potted into 
32’s, and the rest are now ready. We keep them 
growing on the shelves in the intermediate-house, 
where they thrive most satisfactorily, and later on will 
furnish us with an abundance of bloom. Continue the 
propagating of bedding stuff, and finish as early as 
possible. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
Attention will now necessarily turn to next season’s 
supply in this department, and foremost stand out the 
Strawberries for forcing ; these will now require con¬ 
stant attention in the way of watering, sprinkling 
overhead, hand weeding, and last, but not by any 
means to be overlooked, keeping the runners constantly 
pinched off. In the case of healthy plants, it is 
amazing how rapidly these grow, consequently weaken¬ 
ing the crown required to produce the crop of fruit next 
spring ; our plants are standing on a firm bottomed 
ash border, and are making very satisfactory progress, 
the foliage being very thick and strong, so that we 
hope for the best results to follow attention bestowed. 
While the weather continues so hot and dry, it will 
be much better to allow the fires in this department to 
go out, ; an abundance of air should be admitted, which 
will greatly help to thoroughly ripen up both wood and 
foliage, and surely tend to the crop keeping better 
through the autumn months ; this is of the greatest 
moment, as if a thorough ripeness all round is not 
secured, the crop cannot possibly be expected to keep 
sound for any length of time. In the Fig house we 
have a most abundant second crop ; the trees are 
syringed morning and evening, the border is kept well 
watered and damped down, so that we may expect 
shortly they will start swelling off ; they will come in 
most useful for dessert—being much approved. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
In this department much time is taken up with 
watering, and it is absolutely necessary that this should 
be thoroughly done ; and in the case of Peas and Beans 
a good mulching should be given, as the weather con¬ 
tinues so very hot and dry. We still continue, as time 
will permit, the lifting of second early Potatos, which 
now consist only of Woodstock Kidney, which with us is 
of the very best quality. The hoe is kept at work as 
much as possible between all crops to prevent the 
surface crusting over, and also for the destruction of 
small weeds, which persist in making their appearance. 
In the flower garden, as the cuttings for propagating 
are taken off, it will be necessary to give a thorough 
cleaning to the beds ; they will then quickly look gay 
again. In the shrubberies let the clipping be com¬ 
pleted as soon as possible, so that later on all hands 
may be employed in the gathering in and storing of 
the crops of Apples, Pears, and Potatos. Keep the 
walks frequently edged and weeded to prevent seeding, 
and see to the staking of the tall-growing border Asters, 
or should we experience heavy rains they will be apt to 
be broken. If required, Laurel cuttings should now be 
put in, choosing medium shoots with a heel, placing 
them in a moist quarter.— Walter Child, Croome Court. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
The Orchid Growers’ Calendar. —“ Overhaul 
stock, plant by plant and house by house, whenever the 
time can be found to do so ” should be a standing order 
with all Orchid growers, as that very business-like 
operation gives the readiest means of detecting and 
remedying faults in the growth of the plants themselves, 
and discovering the insects in hiding which will do 
them mischief. With this standing order in view, an 
Orchid grower need not look round long at any time for 
important work to do, but immediately start on the 
review of whichever part of the collection needs it most. 
It may be that before he can get through the house 
thoroughly, other important matters will put a stop to 
the work in hand, but no matter, let the work be done 
thoroughly as far as it goes, and return to it when the 
opportunity offers. 
By doing the work thoroughly, I mean that the plants, 
their pots, the staging, the house and everything con¬ 
nected with them should be thoroughly cleansed ; that 
plants requiring re-potting or re-basketing should be 
attended to, and every little matter for their comfort 
which suggests itself seen to. For example, an occasional 
plant will be found on the stage which would possibly do 
best suspended, or, here and there, one in a basket which 
from its condition of growth and vigour seems to say 
that it would now do well on the stage, and yield its 
situation near to the glass of the roof to some frailer 
specimen which would be benefitted by the change. 
For keeping a collection in vigour there is nothing 
like constant handling and change of the position of 
the specimens, but where certain things have been 
found to thrive well in certain positions, care should be 
taken not to move them to fresh quarters. The present 
time (no matter how irregularly the little inspections 
have been done during the year) is one in which a 
thorough review of the whole collection should take 
place in order to have plenty of time to carefully go 
over the whole, and put all in order for winter. 
Repairs to the houses and in the hot-water apparatus 
should also now be seen to at once, for where there are 
defects either in piping or boiler, the evil, if not at¬ 
tended to in warm weather, ends in a break down in 
the winter, which is usually a serious and expensive 
matter. 
The Temperatures for the Month of September 
should be :—Warm house, East Indian, 75° to 80° by 
day, 70° at night; Cattleya or intermediate house, 70° 
to 75° by day, 65° at night; cool or Odontoglossum 
house, 60° to 65° by day, 55° at night .—James O'Brien. 
Flowering Orchids in the City.— In spite 
of the tropical heat, the irrepressible Orchids made a 
very gay and fresh-looking show at the sale of plants 
in bloom at Messrs. Protlieroe & Morris’s Rooms, on 
Tuesday last. We noted a very fine spotted Odonto¬ 
glossum Pescatorei, the rare scarlet Renantliera 
matutina, the pure white-lipped Odontoglossum Bic- 
toniense album, a grand show of Oncidium Jonesianum, 
and a fine example of the variety of Cattleya superba, 
which Mr. Edward Wallace, of The New Plant & Bulb 
Co., of Colchester, is stated to have collected in 
Colombia, and consequently much cooler than the 
other forms. The plant had five very large bright rosy 
crimson flowers, with the most intense dark violet- 
crimson lips. 
Orchid Specialities. —We have received the 
catalogue of Orchid specialities cultivated by Messrs. 
Fred. Horsman & Co., of Colchester, and note the fact 
on account of a very useful and considerate feature that 
has been introduced into it, viz, the printed matter 
being interleaved with closely lined white paper for the 
purpose of making notes and memoranda, which, when 
tabulated, being in company with the useful and 
extensive descriptive list cannot fail to be of service to 
those of its possessors who are wise enough to avail 
themselves of the hint. In this manner notes of time 
of flowering and quality of the flowers can be made 
against each ; notes of things desirable, and many 
other subjects of interest. 
-- 
Some Silver Fir Sleepers which were put into 
the railway line near Perth nine years ago, are 
reported to be still quite sound, and look as if they 
would last another three years. The usual life of a 
Larch sleeper is eight years, and of a Scotch Fir three 
or four years. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
SANDY, BEDS. 
Whether or not flower shows serve the purpose of 
extending a knowledge of practical horticulture, it is 
quite certain that in many parts of the country they 
form remarkable centres of attraction, and are the 
means of bringing together very large bodies of people. 
Surely this is an advantage on social grounds, because 
the associations with horticultural shows are generally 
of an innocuous, if not strictly of an elevating char¬ 
acter ; and when they are held in charming grounds, 
with the added attraction of high-class music, and they 
are made the occasion of a district holiday, the people 
gather together with the absence of many grosser recre¬ 
ations that accompany village fairs for instance. 
The Sandy and district floral and horticultural 
society, whose annual exhibition was held on August 
27th, is one of a thoroughly representative character, 
as it.is all-embracing. There are classes for plants, 
flowers, fruits and vegetables, and there are divisions 
open to all, in which nurserymen can compete, and in 
which they cannot compete ; for amateurs, for market 
gardeners, and for farmers ; then there are classes for 
honey, needlework, ornamental work, stuffed animals, 
butter, eggs, trussed fowls, cage birds, poultry, pigeons, 
rabbits, &c. To accommodate all the subjects, a ring 
of something like a dozen tents is required, and in the 
centre is placed the band, the refreshment tents, and 
other matters. Sandy being the centre of a cluster of 
villages, district committees are appointed in forty-six 
places, and thus the interest of the villagers is se¬ 
cured, and w T hen the day is fine, as it was on the 27th 
ult., an enormous concourse of people came to the show, 
and a large sum of money was taken at the gate. There 
is a subscription list of some £165, but more than this 
is awarded in prizes, and so a fine day is absolutely 
necessary, in order that the show should prove remune¬ 
rative ; the society is fortunate in having an excellent 
worker and administrator in the person of Mr. William 
Green, the acting secretary, who has filled this post for 
many years, and to whose exertions a large amount of 
the success which attends the annual show is due. 
There is a good working committee also. The exhi¬ 
bition took place, as usual, in the park of Sandy Place, 
the residence of J. H. Foster, Esq. 
Five classes in Division A were open to all comers, 
and the prizes offered for ten stove and greenhouse 
plants in flower, brought Mr. James Cypher, that 
universal exhibitor, all the way from Cheltenham, but 
only to suffer defeat at the hands of a local man. Here, 
too, was Mr. J. F. Mould, from Pewsev, and he had 
to be content with third place. Mr. Cypher had, as 
usual, some very fine plants, but wear and tear had 
despoiled them of their freshness, and here was a close 
tent and hot weather rendering them less attractive 
every half-hour. But this is one of the fortunes of 
war, and the greatest commander has had to suffer 
repulses. The first prize fell to the lot of Mr. French, 
gardener to Mr. J. Marriott, Cambridge, with a nice 
fresh lot, consisting of Allamanda Hendersoni and 
nobilis, Ixora amabilis and javanica floribunda, Dipla- 
denia amabilis, Stephanotis floribunda, Bougainvillea 
glabra, Erica Marnockiana, and Statice profusa. Second, 
Mr. J. Cypher ; third, Mr. J. F. Mould ; a fourth and 
an extra prize was awarded. Twelve Zonal Pelargo¬ 
niums -were well shown, and we regret being unable to 
obtain the exhibitors names. Messrs. Paul & Son, Old 
Nurseries, Cheshunt, had the best foity-eight cut Roses, 
showing very good flowers of the leading varieties. 
Second, Messrs. J. Burrell & Co., Howe House Nur¬ 
series, Cambridge. Messrs. J. Burrell & Co. had the 
best twenty-four spikes of Gladiolus, staging a very 
fine lot indeed, characterised by great size and richness 
of colour. Second, Mr. E. T. Atherton, Cambridge. 
The best twenty-four Dahlias came from Mr. Henry 
Glasscock, Bishop Stortford, who had an excellent lot 
of clean flowers. 
In the division open to all, but nurserymen excluded, 
some good plants were shown, but the short time at 
our disposal for reporting prevented anything like the 
taking of copious notes. The best six foliage plants— 
nice, clear, bright, well-grown specimens, but not 
large in size, came from Mr. G. Redman, gardener to 
J. H. Goodgainer, Esq., Eynesbury, St. Neots ; Mr. G. 
Clayden, gardener to J. Astell, Esq., Woodbury Hall, 
Sandy, being second. Stove and greenhouse plants 
in sizes were fairly well shewn ; and Coleus were 
represented by nice pyramidal-grown specimens. Mr. 
G. Clayden had the best six Ferns, staging Gym- 
nogramma chrysophylla, Adiantum Farleyense, A. 
cuneatum, A. gracillimum, A. concinnum, and Blechnum 
eorcovadense. We were unable to obtain the name of 
the exhibitor of the second prize lot, but he had 
Adiantum concinnum, A. concinnum latum, A. 
Williamsii, A. cuneatum, A. Farleyense, and Platy- 
cerium alcicorne. Fuchsias were represented by nice 
bushy specimens, better than are often seen at country 
shows. Tuberous-rooted Begonias were a good feature, 
Mr. A. Apethorpe, Cambridge, was first with six—a 
very good lot ; Mr. Brown, Cambridge, being a good 
second. British Ferns, Zonal Pelargoniums of various 
types, Liliums, Achimene9, Cockscombs, and plants for 
table decoration were all well represented. 
