668 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 16, 1888. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Amaryllis. —In order to secure the best results with 
these bulbous subjects next winter and spring, they 
should receive as much attention as they did previous 
to flowering. The cultivator’s chief object after the 
flowers die away should be to secure as good a growth 
of the foliage as possible, and then to ripen off the 
bulbs properly, after which they should be allowed to 
rest. An apparently good growth of the foliage may 
be made in a stove where a miscellaneous collection of 
things are grown, but the shading necessary for the 
other plants there during the summer months is 
inimical to bulb culture. Should it be necessary to 
grow them under those conditions, stand them all 
together, so that they may receive appropriate treat¬ 
ment as far as the circumstances permit. Encourage 
them by plentiful supplies of moisture, with liquid 
manure occasionally. They may be liberally treated 
in this way, provided they are not overpotted, more 
satisfactory results being obtained when the roots are 
rather restricted. 
Winter-flowering Plants. — Careful attention 
should be given to these all through the summer season, 
and at no time does this apply more forcibly than when 
the plants are young. Go systematically over the 
various batches of such things as Thyrsacanthus, 
Euphorbia, Poinsettia, Centropogon, Plumbago, Eran- 
themum, Vinca, Sericographis, Libonias, and similar 
subjects, re-potting them before they have time to get 
pot-bound, as upon the freedom of growth during the 
three summer months depends the success of the plants 
and the quantity of flowers they produce. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Camellias, &c.-— Such of the earliest started plants as 
have completed their growth should be removed to a 
convenient position out of doors, not however, before 
thoroughly hardening them off to prevent scorching of 
the yet tender young leaves. In the absence of a 
situation where they can be screened from the full glare 
of the sun during the warmer part of the day, it would 
be a profitable plan to erect a light framework where 
roller-blinds or a screen of some sort could be run down 
at pleasure, according to the state of the weather, and 
the amount of sunshine. This will not only be a great 
assistance in the maturing of the foliage properly with¬ 
out browning the leaves, but it will also keep the soil 
in which their roots are placed in a more equable 
condition, with regard to temperature and moisture. 
Once having erected such an awning it will be found 
useful for a great variety of subjects that flower in 
winter, and which now require to be removed to the 
open air to harden and properly mature their growth. 
Amongst these, Heaths, Epacris, Azaleas, Acacias, 
Coronillas, Tremandras, Eriostemons, and a host of 
New Holland and other plants might be mentioned. 
To prevent the ingress of worms to the pots, stand 
them on a good layer of fresh ashes. Soft-wooded and 
deciduous plants, such as Deutzias, Prunus, Amygdalus, 
do not require shading, provided they are properly 
hardened off before being fully exposed, and the pots 
wholly or partially screened from the sun, so as to 
prevent the slender fibrous roots from getting burned 
against the sides of the pots. The colour of the foliage 
of deciduous subjects is a matter of secondary 
importance, provided a good growth has been made. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
ViNERIES. —Now is a critical time with all rapidly- 
growing Vines, and where the berries are quickly 
swelling. The danger is considerably augmented by 
the changeable nature of the weather. Bright and 
glaring sunshine has followed cold cloudy days in such 
a manner as to make ventilation a matter requiring the 
most careful consideration. If the mornings be bright, 
open the ventilators early, so as to prevent the rapid 
rise of the temperature, rather than leave it till later, 
when they are widely opened, admitting a rush of cold 
air, which is most injurious, even if the foliage or the 
fruit has not become scalded or even ruined before that 
time. Lady Downe’s and Muscats call more particularly 
for careful attention in this respect. 
Grape Thinning should now be vigorously prose¬ 
cuted until completed. We do not advocate the looping 
up of the large shoulders of the bunches, except in 
extreme cases where it can scarcely be avoided, as it 
destroys their natural appearance when cut, and the 
berries of the shoulders also lie loosely over the rest, 
thus bruising them and rubbing off the bloom. All 
Grapes that are intended to hang on the Vines till 
Christmas or later should be more severely thinned 
than those that are to be cut before that time. All 
rampant growths should be checked in good time, with 
the exception of the terminal one, which should be 
allowed to grow freel} 7 . The weaker growths may be 
allowed to mature and fill all vacant spaces, thereby 
utilising the strength of the Vines to the best possible 
advantage. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Peaches, &c., on Walls. —Disbudding will by this 
time have been completed, and all in neat order ; but 
owing to the prevalence of dry weather in many parts 
of ths country, all through spring and during the time 
they have been making their growth, considerable 
attention will have to be given them to keep down 
aphides and other vermin that increase at an alarming 
rate under such favourable conditions. There have 
been occasional slight showers, but the garden engine 
will have to be kept at work if the trees are expected 
to present a healthy and clean appearance later on ; 
because on the abundance and efficiency of the foliage 
depends the ability of the trees to bring to perfection 
a good crop of fruit. Fasten in the long shoots of 
Apricots, especially on young trees where much wood 
is annually being developed. Net Cherry trees in good 
time to prevent the ravages of birds, which will be 
particularly destructive if dry weather continues till 
the fruit season commences. There are few gardens 
where these tempting fruits can be preserved, except 
by netting or assiduous watching. 
Strawberries. —Where it is the custom to defer 
mulching till the last moment, and clean straw is used 
for the purpose, the operation should not much longer 
be deferred. In doing it thus late in the season some 
advantage is gained where the ground is naturally of a 
weedy character, inasmuch as it can be hoed and kept 
clean till within a short time of the fruiting season, 
and can again be cleaned after that time. While 
cleaning them, remove all runners that are not required 
to furnish young plants. In laying down the straw do 
the work carefully and neatly, not burying either the 
foliage or flowers. If dry weather prevail after the 
setting of the fruit, it would prove of immense 
advantage to the plants to receive a heavy watering 
occasionally from the garden engine. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
The Orchid Growers’ Calendar. 
Ventilating in Hot Weather. —A mistaken notion 
prevails with some growers that the hotter the day the 
wider should the top and bottom ventilators be opened. 
A moment’s reflection, or a few experiments, will, 
however, soon convince them to the contrary. On 
bright, sunny, hot days a better temperature can be 
kept in the houses by almost entirely depending on the 
bottom ventilators, and either leaving the top ones 
close, or only opening them about | in. to A in., as 
observation may direct. On hot days, if the top venti¬ 
lators be opened, too great a current is created, and 
excessive aeration takes place, which is harmful to the 
plants in the houses in different degrees, according to 
the quarter of the globe from whence they come. 
Laelias, both Mexican and Brazilian, will withstand, 
and even be benefited by, a dry condition of the atmo¬ 
sphere, which would be rather too excessive for 
Cattleyas and Oncidiums ; while, in their turn, Aerides, 
Vandas, and other evergreen East Indian plants require 
a moister air in summer than Cattleyas and other 
Brazilian things. With Odontoglossums, Masdevallias, 
and other cool-house Orchids, it is impossible to keep 
the air in the house too cool and moist during the hot 
weather. With these plants, if too much top venti¬ 
lation be allowed, thin leaves and a good crop of thrips 
result. I would therefore recommend all to observe by 
experiment the amount of ventilation required on each 
house, and it will be found that if properly worked the 
Orchid houses can be kept more comfortable than out¬ 
doors in hot weather, and the likings of each section 
be met at the same time .—James O'Brien. 
Cattleya gigas Sanderiana. 
The flowering season of this grand Cattleya has 
already commenced, as is evidenced by a magnificent 
flower that has been sent us by Mr. David Wilson, 
Westmount, Kelvinside, Glasgow, where it has flowered 
with him for the first time. We are always delighted 
to see this fine Orchid at any season, for it is really a 
prince amongst its kind. The flower measured close 
upon 8 ins. across the petals when spread out; and the 
latter organs were several shades darker than the 
sepals, which were of a lively warm rose colour, and 
measured over I in. in breadth. In looking at the 
flower, however, the whole attention becomes centred 
on the rich crimson-purple lip, the lamina of which 
was close upon ins. across. The two large white 
and yellow blotches at the orifice of the tube, also by 
contrast with the richer colours surrounding them, 
constitute a prominent feature of this showy Orchid. 
Orchids at the Irish Exhibition. 
A beautiful group of Orchids is now being exhibited 
by J. T. Peacock, Esq., Sudbury House, Hammersmith, 
at the Irish Exhibition, now opened at the Olympia. 
It occupies a table about the middle of the large 
building containing the exhibits, and consists princi¬ 
pally of Odontoglossum vexillarium in numerous shades 
of colour, varying from a warm rose to nearly pure 
white. In the latter variety there are only a few red 
lines on the base of the lip and petals. There are 
about seventy-five plants of this species alone, and the 
quantity of flowers upon them has a telling effect. The 
typical and white form of 0. Roezlii is also dotted 
about, together with Cypripedium Lawrencianum, the 
beautiful C. Stonei, and C. barbatum. Odontoglossums 
are represented by 0. crispum, 0. cordatum, 0. c. 
aureum, a pretty variety, the fragrant 0. citrosmnm, 
and its rose-coloured form, 0. Wallisii resembles 0. 
constrictum, except for the downy lip and narrow 
grassy leaves. Distinct and beautiful species are 
Oncidium crispum and 0. ampliatum majus. Numerous 
pretty varieties of Cattleya Mendelii are probably next 
in importance to the Miltonias. Dendrobiums are 
represented by D. thyrsiflorum ; Epidendrums by E. 
vitellinum majus ; Maxillarias by a fine piece of M. 
tenuifolia ; Vandas by V. suavis ; and Platyclinis 
(Dendrochilum) by P. longifolia, a well-grown piece, 
containing eleven long spikes of buff-yellow flowers, 
and as large as P. Cobbianum, although not so brightly 
coloured. Fine species are Masdevallia Harryana, M. 
amabilis, M. Chimaera, and M. Normaniana. The 
latter resembles M. Ileichenbachiana, but is larger and 
of a deep blood red externally. The group is set off 
with Palms, Adiantums, and edged with Isolepis ; but 
notwithstanding the presence of all these things the 
group at a distance has the appearance of being com¬ 
posed almost entirely of Odontoglossum vexillarium. 
Cymbidium pendulum atropurpureum. 
The typical form of this plant comes from Nepaul, and 
is poor compared with its East Indian representative 
above mentioned, a many-flowered raceme of which has 
reached us from Messrs. Vm. Thomson & Sons, Tweed 
Vineyards, Clovenfords. The sepals and petals are of 
a uniform, deep velvety purple, with the exception of 
the outer surface of the former, which is tinted with 
yellow. The lip is white, blotched with crimson in 
front of the disk, along the middle of the terminal 
segment, and crimson all over the lateral lobes and the 
tube. The ridged crest is bright yellow, the 
column is of a paler and more lively colour than the 
sepals and petals, contrasting strongly with its 
lemon-yellow anther cap. It is a large-growing 
species, with pendulous racemes reaching 2 ft. to 3 ft. 
in length, and presents no difficulty in cultivation 
when grown in the East Indian house. 
Two fine Cattleyas from Melrose. 
It would be difficult to say whether Cattleya gigas 
Sanderiana or C. Acklandiee in its best form was the 
best or most interesting species, our opinion being that 
the two cannot be compared on the same ground, but 
that each is perfection in its own way. C. gigas 
Sanderiana measured within a fraction of 9 ins. across 
the petals, and they, together with the sepals, were of 
a warm bright rose, with somewhat darker veins. As 
is usual, however, the lip is the chief centre of attraction, 
and the whole of it, including the tube, was of a rich 
purple, excepting, of course, the white and yellow 
blotches of the throat, and the purple lines on a white 
and yellow ground running down into the tube. The 
rosy purple column is comparatively small for such a 
large-flowered species, especially when compared with 
that of C. Acklandiae, which is quite uncovered by the 
lip, of great size, sub-triangular, and deep purple, 
especially on the upper half. The three-lobed nearly 
flattened lip is a rich deep rose, paler at the base, and 
furnished with a fine yellow blotch close to the lemon- 
yellow anther cap. The sepals and petals were Yery 
distinctly blotched with intensely dark crimson on a 
