346 
THE GARDENING WO RED 
January 31, 1891. 
The Amateurs' Garden- 
_ n -» r — 
SEASONABLE WORK in the GARDEN. 
Palms.—The potting cf these may now be com¬ 
menced, so that it may be completed before the busy 
spring-time arrives. In private establishments there is 
generally no desire for plants of large size, so that over¬ 
potting should be avoided, as it encourages gross 
growth. Another thing is that plants in small pots 
can be carried through the winter in better condition 
than where there is too much root room. Use a compost 
consisting mainly of good fibrous loam, with sufficient 
sand to render it porous. 
Aspidistras.—AVhere these have grown too large, 
or it is desired to increase stock, the plants may be 
turned out of their pots, and divided into pieces by the 
hand. They should not be chopped with a trowel or 
any blunt instrument, as that means the destruction of 
many roots, and often buds. A knife may he used if 
the soil is so far removed as to show where to make 
effectual cuts without unnecessary damage. 
Gesneras and Tydceas.—As winter-flowering 
Gesneras and Tydajas go out of bloom, they should be 
encouraged gradually to go to rest. Beware of suddenly 
withholding all water, as then the foliage, instead of 
ripening off properly, gets shrivelled and withered up 
at the expense of the rhizomes, which therefore fail to 
become firm and plump. 
Davallias.—The potting of Ferns may be com¬ 
menced in the warm fernery. If it is desired to 
j )crease the stock of Davallias, it may be done now by 
division of the rhizomes, maintaining a few roots to 
each piece if possible. D. Tyermanni and D. bullata 
are of moderate growth, and very suitable for mixing 
with cut flowers. D. elegans and its variety D. e. 
dissecta are also useful easily grown kinds, both deci¬ 
duous, and therefore easily dealt with. Peg the 
rhizomes firmly down on the fresh soil. 
Adiantums.—Those who have large specimens of 
A. Farleyense which have gone wrong in the centre, 
will find the best plan is to pull them into pieces of 
moderate size, and grow them on again to large size. 
Use a compost consisting, chiefly of good sound fibrous 
loam with a small quantity of peat and plenty of sand. 
"Where a large quantity of fronds of Adiantum cuneatum 
is required for cut-flower purposes, the best plan is to 
break up the old plants and grow them on again, 
thereby ensuring a more vigorous growth. 
Auriculas.—Preparations may be made to give 
these a top-dressing towards the middle of February. 
Use well-rotted cow manure 2nd fibrous mellow loam in 
about equal parts. Both should be broken up by the 
hand, removing worms, grubs, and wireworms from it 
as the work proceeds. 
Pansies in Pots.—Little growth has been possible 
for some time past, but we may reasonably expect a 
change before long. Good plants in 60-size pots may 
be transferred into 6-in. ones, so as to encourage good 
growth and plenty of flowers early in the season. Peg 
down the stronger shoots as they grow until the 
surface of the pots is fairly well covered. 
Dahlias.—Go over the stock of tubers and see 
whether they are all in good condition. Remove any 
that may have rotted, to prevent their injuring the 
rest. Should a quantity of any one kind he required 
for bedding or other purposes, and the stock he short, 
the best plan would be to commence immediately by 
introducing the tubers to heat, so that cuttings may be 
obtained at an early date. When the first made shoots 
are long enough, do not cut them too closely to the 
tuber, because two more shoots may be expected from 
the base of the first one. - 
"Vineries.—The atmosphere of houses where the 
Vines are just coming into flower should be allowed 
to get quite dry during the day, so as to encourage the 
free distribution of the pollen. For the same reason 
the evaporating pans should be allowed to get dry for 
some days till the fruit has become set. The tem¬ 
perature should also be kept rather high during the 
day. After the setting period is over a little manure 
water or guano should be put into the evaporating 
pans, which should now ha kept filled. 
Figs.—While the weather continues severe outside 
it will be advisable not to force very hard. The 
amount of firing that has been given, and especially 
where fermenting dung has" not been freely used, 
renders great attention to watering necessary. Plants 
in pots, especially if standing near hot-water pipes, 
will require a considerable amount of water, with the 
frequent use of liquid manure. Keep the evaporating 
pans well filled, and if the trees are planted out a good 
layer of fresh manure will assist greatly. 
The Cherry House.—Before the flower buds ex¬ 
pand it would be a good plan to syringe the trees two or 
three times with quassia water in order to destroy any 
green or black-fly that may now he hatched out. This 
should be done at night, so that the trees may remain 
moist as long as possible. 
Kitchen a,nd Fruit Garden.—During the long 
continuance of frost all the necessary manure should 
have been wheeled on to the quarters, so that when 
the soil is again in workable condition there may 
be no delay in having the ground dug or trenched, 
as intended pruning of fruit trees, Gooseberries and 
Currants may be proceeded with during the warmer 
part of the day so as to keep the work as well forward 
as circumstances will permit. Prepare shreds and 
stakes for all purposes, storing them away in a dry shed 
till required. 
-- 
GHEAM PARK, SURREY. 
Near by the village of Cheam and within easy distance 
of the railway station is Cheam Park, the residence of 
F. C. Jacomb, Esq., beautifully embowered and hidden 
amongst the trees. Scattered about the park, as well 
as in the vicinity of the mansion, are some very aged 
specimens of trees, but seeing that all were leafless 
with the exception of a few evergreen kinds, we directed 
our attention to the Orchid houses. 
Three years ago the collection was brought from 
Stamford Hill, N.E , and Mr. May, the gardener, finds 
the conditions for successful cultivation considerably 
altered. The soil is chalky, and the air vfery dry in 
summer, so that it is necessary to keep the Odonto- 
glossum house almost closed, and shaded during 
summer, in order to keep down the temperature and 
preserve a moist atmosphere. A little ventilation is 
given by the bottom ventilators on the north side only. 
The floor of the house (which is new) is about 3 ft. 
below the ground level, and a large tank has been con¬ 
structed beneath the central stage for the reception of 
rain water from the roof. The house itself is a span- 
roofed structure, running nearly east and west, and 
standing as it does quite clear of the house, a maximum 
of light is ensured. 
There is a considerable variety of species in bloom at 
present, but the Odontoglossums in this house are the 
most attractive. Amongst the forms of 0. crispum we 
failed to note a bad one. Selection is here the rule, 
and all bad ones are weeded out as unworthy of house 
room. One form bore thirteen large flowers on a scape, 
and the broadly overlapping segments were pure white 
with the exception of a chocolate-brown blotch on the 
lip ; another had only the usual yellow on the disc of the 
lip ; and a third was characterised by a rich blotch on 
the back of the column, the rest being pure white. A 
fourth was notable for its nearly orbicular flower, with 
a few small spots on the lip. A small piece in a little 
pot carried a raceme of white and rose-tinted flowers, 
, which being borne on a gracefully arching stem, were 
very effective. This was, however, exceeded in beauty 
by a piece of 0. c. guttatum fastuosum, characterised 
by the cluster of reddish brown blotches on the middle 
of the sepals and petals, the spotting on the lip, and 
the rosy purple tint suffusing the whole flower. 
Another very pretty variety, with purple blotches on a 
white ground, comes near 0. c. guttatum, but the 
blotches are rather smaller. 
A form of 0. Pescatorei bore flowers that at a short 
distance resembled 0. crispum, on account of their size; 
and near by it was one of the finest flowers of 0. c. 
Andersonianum we have seen for some time. The 
sepals were white, with -cinnamon blotches, and the 
petals as well as the lip were marked with red blotches. 
The forms of 0. triumphans in this collection are both 
varied and fine, but only a few of them are in bloom at 
present ; one was notable for the rich dark chocolate 
blotches on a shining yellow ground, and the lower half 
of the lip was white with the upper half chocolate. A 
large piece of 0. luteo-purpureum carried seven long 
racemes of large, richly-coloured flowers. A variety of 
this in bloom might be ranged under 0. l.-p. seep tram, 
as it was characterised by its much smaller and rounder 
flowers, richly spotted with brown, and with purple at 
the base of the petals. Several pieces of 0. Harryanum 
scattered about the house were notable for the rich 
colours of their flowers, and also their unusually well- 
developed form. Both the sepals and petals were of 
good substance and folded backwards instead of being 
incurved as is nearly always the case with this species. 
The clear atmosphere of Cheam Park must be held 
accountable for the superior quality of the flowers. 
The latter also possess a strong but peculiar odour. 
A splendid form of 0. Eossii Humeanum was also iu 
bloom. The sepals were purple and marbled with 
yellow lines, while the petals had a conical mass 
of purple blotches on the lower half. The lip was 
of great size, and white with a lemon crest. There 
were five flowers on a scape. Several pieces of the 
pretty little 0. Hunnewellianum, with its chocolate- 
brown and yellow spotted flowers, were scattered 
about the house. A number of plants now showing 
bloom for the first time may have some surprises in 
store when they expand. 0. citrosmum roseum when 
it last flowered carried seventy-six blooms. It is a large 
piece grown in a basket suspended from the roof. 
Numerous pieces of Sophronitis grandiflora and some 
of S. violacea, suspended from the roof in small pots 
and baskets, also served to keep this house gay. Long 
fringes of Tradescantia hung from the edges of both 
the central and side stages, giving the house a finished 
appearance. A large number of Cypripediums are 
grown in a lean-to house in company with various 
other subjects, notably Vanda Kimballiana, Y. Ames- 
iana, Phams Humblotii, Angrrecum Sanderianum, and 
the always interesting A. sesquipedale—now in bloom. 
Amongst the Cypripediums may be noted C. Elliott- 
ianura, C. caudatum roseum, C. bellatnlum, C. villosum 
aureum, a fine piece just coming into bloom, and C. 
Godefroyre Gardnerianum, having the under-surface of 
its leaves green. Cattleya Sehrodene is now in sheatu, 
and the buds of the beautiful Saccolabium bellinum 
will expand shortly. 
The stove also contains a mixed collection of plants, 
and a large number of Orchids have been accommodated 
here, chiefly Dendrobiums and Phalieuopsids. A stem 
of D. Leachianum carried thirty-two flower-buds. The 
species of Phalrenopsis in this house were a picture of 
health and robust vigour, showing that they are well 
cared for by Mr. May. They are grown in teak 
baskets inside larger ones, suspended from the roof. 
The space between the outer and inner baskets is 
occupied by charcoal, to absorb the moisture which 
might otherwise accumulate, to the injury of the plants 
in winter. The species we noted were P. Schilleriana, 
P. amabilis, P. Sanderiana, P. Stuartiana, and P. 
gloriosa, mostly hearing large panieled scapes of flowers 
only yet in bud. The foliage is fine, and in the case 
of P. Schilleriana and P. Stuartiana very beautifully 
marbled. In this house was a fine piece of Ccelogyne 
cristata Lemoniaua with numerous flower scapes ; and 
another piece of it in the next house, and grown iu a 
large Orchid pot, bore between thirty and forty flower 
scapes that will produce a fine effect by-and-by. 
The Cattleya house also contains a mixed collection. 
Numerous pieces of C. Triante were in bloom ; but the 
bulk were over, so that they must have been unusually 
early. There were some fairly well-coloured samples 
of Calanthe Yeitchii, in spite of the fogs of recent date. 
Amongst the varieties of L. ancep3 were L a. Sander¬ 
iana, with white flowers and a rich purple blotch on 
the lip, and L. a. alba with almost pure white flowers. 
Cypripedium callosum and C. cenanthum superhum 
were also flowering here, as was the pure white Lycaste 
Skinneri alba ; the flowers of the latter were of large 
size and good substance. 
-O i s gC - C- -- 
RANCHE LIFE IN THE GREAT 
N. W. T. 
Mr. A. Dean, Bedfont, writes : — You published 
recently an interesting letter from our old friend, Mr. 
Barnett, now in California. I offer for acceptance a 
few notes from my daughter, dated Mosquito Creek, 
Jan. 4th, which shows, so far as time would permit, 
that even so far north-west as Alberta Territory, 
N. "W". T. of Canada, the winter there had, relatively 
to what is usual, been comparatively mild and open, in 
pleasant contrast to what has been recent European 
experience. Here is a record of spending Christmas in 
a cattle ranche : — 
“Well, Christmas has passed over quietly. I had 
four men to dinner besides our two selves. I had 
prepared a couple of young fowls, vegetables, plum 
puddings, mince pies, and cake ; but nuts, orauges, 
and similar fruits—so plentiful with you in England— 
cannot be had out here, fifty miles from the nearesttown. 
My guests, all Canadians, regarded my puddings as first 
rate. Three of the men went off in the afternoon to 
look after their cattle, and my husband rode out for 
the mail, as it was post day. Men out here are great 
eaters, and would surprise you at home. It is wonder¬ 
ful sometimes where they put the food. Any man 
working for another here expects plenty of meat, usually 
fried beefsteaks, with potatos, coffee, porridge, and 
bread and butter for their breakfast ; and I have seen 
