November 19, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
187 
about 6 ins. in diameter, and lias a juicy, sweet, and 
succulent flesh. We are hardly warranted in judging 
of its qualities from any fruit that may be produced in 
our comparatively sunless climate, and especially when 
grown, as it must be, indoors. Botanically, it is the 
Passiflora quadrangularis, and as such has been culti¬ 
vated, more or less widely, over 100 years in our hot¬ 
houses, purely for ornamental purposes. It is naturally 
less floriferous than the common P. ccerulea, having 
strong vigorous shoots, which are, however, less in¬ 
clined to branch, bearing ample foliage and massive- 
looking flowers. The latter are both curious and highly 
ornamental—in the first place on account of the long 
fleshy filaments of the two outer rows of the five-fold 
corona, which are longer than the petals and hang 
down perpendicularly ; secondly, on account of their 
colour, which is white and tessellated or variegated 
with violet. The sepals and petals are less conspicuous, 
but the former are green externally and white inter¬ 
nally, while the petals are of the latter colour externally 
and red internally. Like other species of Passion 
Plower, the blooms are rather ephemeral in their 
duration, but very ornamental while they last and 
deliciously scented. Coming as it does from Nicaragua, 
this species requires stove temperature, or, at least, 
that of an infermediatej house, such as it enjoys at 
Gunnersbury House, Acton, where it is now flowering. 
It is necessary that it should be planted out in a bed 
or large tub—preferably the. former. 
Morello Cherries on Walls. — In many 
gardens Morello Cherry trees are to be seen with the 
wood laid in so thick that it is not surprising the 
result is a crop of small fruit, or sometimes none at 
all. Now, when the pruning season has come round 
again, a judicious thinning-out should be made. As 
many of the old weak shoots as are thought prudent 
should be cut out, and the best young shoots laid in 
4 ins. or 5 ins. apart, which is quite close enough if 
good, large, fleshy fruit is wanted. Pruning should be 
done so as to have the young wood equally laid in over 
the tree. In many cases old trees will have got bare 
of young wood at the bottom. In such case it is 
better to gradually root out the old trees, and introduce 
young ones.— J. Robertson. 
Variegated. Cineraria.— Are the variegated 
Cinerarias common things ? In all my experience I 
have only seen three ; but the first two never came to 
anything, but died off shortly after the first potting. 
"We have got a beautiful one here which is doing re¬ 
markably well, and is a nice healthy plant in a 32-size 
pot; it measures 19 ins. through, and as all the others 
are showing flower except this one, I am beginning 
to wonder whether it will flower with us. If it 
continues growing as fast as it has done, it will develop 
into a fine specimen by Christmas. — John Peebles, 
TPexham Park. 
-- 
ORCHID NOT ES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchid Growers’ Calendar. —October and 
the early part of November is the best time to go over 
the large-growing "Vandas—Y. tricolor, Y. suavis and 
their varieties, and Y. insignis—in order to see that they 
are sound and comfortable in their pots. At this time, 
those which are not firmly rooted, or which in any way 
seem to indicate that re-potting would be desirable, 
should be attended to, although these plants should in 
no case be re-potted unnecessarily. Plants which are 
well established and healthy simply want at this 
season as much of the old sphagnum moss as possible 
removed from between the roots and its place supplied 
by fresh. Plants of these Yandas which have lost their 
bottom leaves may be at this season safely cut down, 
care being taken to cut only where sufficient root exists 
on the old and naked stem to ensure the establishing of 
the top after severance. The bottoms of specimens 
from which the main stems have been removed should 
be carefully looked after, as they give a plentiful supply 
of suceessional plants, which is of great importance 
where fine varieties are concerned. Half to two-thirds 
crocks as drainage, and where a known pure charcoal 
can be obtained a proportion of that should be used; 
while for the rest of the material required to finish the 
potting, nothing can compare with fresh sphagnum 
moss for these plants. After looking over in the 
manner described and cleansing them, this section of 
Yandas should be placed for the winter in a cool 
intermediate house (60° to 65°), and be carefully 
watered, the material about them being, generally 
speaking, kept moist, but still allowed to get dry 
'occasionally, in order to make sure that they do not 
get too wet. "While some of the best growers of these 
Vandas get grand results with their plants in a much 
cooler temperature than that 1 mention, by far the 
greater part will persist in keeping them hot and close, 
and thus inducing spot (for this is the only cause of it), 
thin leaves, weak growths, and ultimately decay. By 
such treatment I have seen more than one valuable lot 
ruined of late. The general collection of Acrides, 
Saccolabiums, lesser Vandas, &c., should not be re¬ 
potted until spring, unless in individual cases, where 
something happens to make it evidently desirable.— 
James O’Brien. 
Dendrobium chryaanthum. —A well-grown 
specimen, with over a dozen and a half spikes of 
intense deep yellow fleshy flowers, and some three 
dozen and upwards of flowers on a spike, is an object of 
great beauty just now, in a stove at Caversham Rectory, 
near Reading. The plant is suspended in a basket from 
the roof, which is well adapted for that purpose, and 
this is an Orchid which is worth a place even in the 
most limited collections.— A. 0. 
-->X<~- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
. ♦ . _ 
* 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
The Greenhouse. —We are indeed in the dreary 
month [of November, “King Sol” not deigning to 
visit us, and but for the Chrysanthemum “Show,” 
which is now looked for in every place of any preten¬ 
sions, there is danger of an attack of melancholia. And 
yet on looking about us, we still find abundant use for 
all labour, and every endeavour should be made to keep 
things as bright and clean as possible. In the green¬ 
house, Salvias and Zonal Pelargoniums are of the 
greatest value; these together with some of the brightest 
coloured Chrysanthemums and Eupatoriums, make 
quite a respectable show. Solanums, too, form a 
distinct feature in the staging, and we have yet quite 
a goodly show of double Petunias. 
Cinerarias and Primulas are for the present 
staged in a house by themselves, and by this means 
well-furnished plants are always secured, particularly of 
thelatter, which are now throwing up finely. In “reds,” 
the colour is very bright and deep, while in “ whites,” 
size and fringing are extra good. Plants are selected as 
required for either house decoration or staging purposes ; 
this gives room for those from the pits, which are 
benefited by the transfer. Traces of green-fly were 
visible, so a general fumigation was given on three 
alternate evenings, which quite eradicates all aphides, 
but not so when one application only is given ; by 
adopting this mode there is no fear of injury to the 
most tender plant. 
Herbaceous Calceolarias must be potted on into 
48’s. They are a good lot, and will well repay all 
attention bestowed, for when the London season is at 
its height, and the greatest variety of cut flowers is 
needed, these are most useful, and carry very well 
when bunched, or placed by themselves in trumpet¬ 
shaped glasses have a most pleasing effect. In potting, 
notice if there are traces of aphis, and if so fumigate 
without delay. The best place for them will be found 
on shelves quite close to the glass in a cold house, where 
they may be kept as sturdy as possible. 
Mignonette. —See that the autumn-sown Migno¬ 
nette is kept regularly tied, and be careful to avoid 
over watering, of which it is most impatient. A part 
of the Tree Mignonette should now be allowed to come 
into flower ; and if the pots are well filled with roots, 
it may be assisted with an occasional dose of liquid 
manure, that made from soot and cow-manure being 
the best, as most likely to impart a good deep colour 
to the foliage. 
Lachenalias. —We have been obliged to give more 
room, as they were becoming crowded ; these must be 
kept quite cool, and must in no wise suffer for want of 
water at the roots, or the flower spikes are never so 
satisfactory. We have potted all the show and fancy 
Pelargoniums, giving quite a small shift, as they w T ill 
naturally root slowly at this season ; at the same time, 
as the pots were becoming crowded, it was preferable to 
allowing them to remain as they were until the spring, 
as they would have become stunted in growth. One 
great thing with these plants is to always keep them 
growing, as they never recover from a severe check. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
The weather having been so dull we have added 
bottom heat to the Cucumbers, and they continue to 
grow very freely, too much so in fact, and we have, 
therefore, allowed them to carry a few extra fruits, and 
the points have been removed from some of the strongest 
shoots, which will have the effect of checking them a 
bit. The plants for the next house have been shifted 
into 24"s, so that they may keep growing, but they are 
still kept on the shelves quite close to the glass to 
prevent drawing. Black-fly made its appearance, but 
a couple of fumigations quickly dislodged them. 
The buds on the early Yines should now be 
swelling up apace, and as they progress must be 
assisted by more frequent syringing of the canes, a few 
degrees higher temperature during the day, and the 
closing of the house early in the afternoon ; but do not 
let the night temperature exceed 50° for the present. 
The pot Vines will have advanced more rapidly than 
the established ones, on account of the application of 
bottom heat, but much care is necessary with them ; 
the house in which they are growing should be more 
freely ventilated, or the foliage is apt to become very 
flimsy, and, it must be remembered, good fruit cannot 
then be hoped for ; it will also be advisable not to 
keep a strong bottom heat until the clusters are in 
flower, when they may be indulged with a little extra 
and also a higher temperature, say 75° by day, 68’ by 
night, which will be found ample to secure a perfect 
set, when they should again be kept steady until 
stoning is passed. 
"VYe have introduced succession lots of Sea Kale and 
Rhubarb, the last-named having made a growth of 
6 ins., and Sea Kale we have already in use for the 
dining table. - 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Tree-planting.— The weather continuing dry over¬ 
head we have made fair progress with digging, but our 
operations have been somewhat cramped by the lifting 
of a quantity of forest trees for estate-planting from the 
nursery, and the transplanting of some specimen 
Conifers which had over-grown their positions. Follow 
the directions given as to the manuring of the squares 
according to the crops to occupy ; and, by all means, 
let those to be devoted to Peas, Beans and Asparagus 
be double dug and heavily manured, and if the manure 
used is only in a half-rotted state so much the better ; 
it will have become sufficiently decomposed by the 
time the roots require to feed upon it, and to have a 
greater part of the strength left in it. 
Protecting Endive, &c. —It will be advisable now 
to afford protection to Endive and Lettuce in case of 
severe weather setting in, and a kind of covering or 
frame-work upon which mats can be spread will 
answer the purpose ; because in case of sharp frosts 
bracken can be added. Cauliflowers fit for use should 
be regularly lifted if not required at the time, and 
stored in an open shed or cellar until required. Chicory 
is now fit for use, and will be found useful for the 
salad bowl, but let weekly supplies of roots be intro¬ 
duced to the Mushroom-house, and also be careful to 
make frequent sowings in boxes of small salading. 
Nailing and Pruning. —"We are making good 
progress with nailing on the walls, but many of our 
trees being young it i3 necessary this season to remove 
the greater part of the shreds. On the stout branches 
these are replaced by ties of tarred twine, which are 
placed so as to last three or four years, and this saves 
an immense amount of time, particularly where much 
nailing, as with us, has to be done. — Walter Child, 
Croome Court. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS, 
BIRMINGHAM.— Nov. 16 th and 17th. 
The twenty-seventh annual exhibition held at Bir¬ 
mingham took place on Wednesday and Thursday last, 
in the Town Hall, and was, in every way, a great 
success. The entries were far in excess of those of 
previous years—so much so, in fact, that the com¬ 
mittee had to find additional rooms for the exhibits, 
which, in most of the classes, were of a very meritorious 
character. If the society continues -to flourish in the 
same manner as it has done the last few years, a much 
larger place will have to be found for the show. Great 
credit is due to Mr. Hughes, the energetic secretary, 
and his hard-working committee, as well as to Mr. 
Latham, the chairman, for the admirable arrangements 
made for conducting the exhibition. The weather was 
anything but favourable for bringing out tender plants, 
as the thermometer registered 13° of frost, and great 
precautions had to be taken by those exhibiting exotics. 
Cut blooms of Chrysanthemums were shown in great 
number, but here, as at other places, a noticeable 
falling off was apparent in the incurved varieties, while 
the Japanese were much finer than usual. For forty- 
eight blooms, twenty-four Japanese and twenty-four 
incurved, Mr. Parker, gardener to John Corbett, Esq., 
