THE GARDENING WORLD 
576 
Li'-./cV " ' " 
May 9, 1896 
but for inexperienced hands to apply it direct it may 
do more harm than good. For this purpose we use 
the best guano, but only in very small quanties, and 
then only to strong growing and healthy plants.— C. 
ORCHID notes’* GLEANINGS. 
By The Editor. 
Oncidium concolor.—During spring and early 
summer the soft and uniformly yellow flowers are 
very attractive and remind one of some of the yellow 
species of Oxalis such, for instance, as O, valdiviana. 
The plant is very moderate in growth, and gives 
most satisfaction when grown in a small pan or pot 
suspended from the roof of the Orchid house. In 
the nursery of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, 
it is now flowering in the cool or Odontoglossum 
house. The sepals are moderate in size, but the 
lip is large and at once the most conspicuous and 
attractive feature of the flower. There are few 
Orchids having flowers so uniformely clear yellow 
without spots or markings of some other hue so that 
O. concolor is rather unique in its way. 
Colax jugosus.—This is closely allied to Zygo- 
petalum and is notable for the waxy or fleshy 
character of its beautiful flowers. The sepals are 
pure white and the ground colour of the petals is of 
the same hue, but they are beautifuly spotted with 
violet-purple over the greater portion of the surface. 
The lip is closely striped or lined with blue along its 
whole length so that at a short distance it appears 
to be blue of the same tint as we meet with in 
Zygopetalum Mackayi crinitum, or nearly so. 
Grown in a small basket or Orchid pan, and sus¬ 
pended near the glass of the warm Orchid house, as 
in the nursery of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, 
this occupies but a small amount of space and is 
always pretty.and interesting when in bloom. 
Oncidium pulchellum.—It is to be regretted 
that gems of this sort are not more frequently met 
with in collections of Orchids throughout the 
country. Though the whole plant is small, the 
flowers are relatively large and exceedingly pretty. 
The leaves have three sunk or furrowed faces and 
three sharp edges, being thus triquetrous like those 
of the clcsely alied O. triquetrum. The flowers are 
borne in short, spreading, or drooping racemes, and 
the sepals and petals are white. The three-lobed 
lip appears four-lobed owing to the large terminal 
lobe "being rather deeply bifid, and is white with the 
exception of an orange blotch which extends in front 
and behind the crest. The wings of the column are 
purple, rather large, prominent, and appearing at 
first sight like small erect petals. They serve 
largely to give the flower character and beauty. The 
species belongs to a small group distributed over 
the West Indies and Central and South America. 
Notwithstanding its beauty, neat habit and the 
small amount of space it occupies, it is very rare in 
cultivation. We noted it flowering beautifully in 
the Orchid Rockery, in the nursery of Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Orchids at Chardwar.—The Orchid houses at 
Chard war are now very gay, one house containing 
some fine specimens of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum 
with grand spikes. One plant has seventeen spikes 
and altogether there are about sixty spikes in the 
house, making a splendid show. There are also 
tome good plants of Dendrobium Paxtonii, many D. 
nobile and D. Cassiope, and some fine spikes of 
Epidendrum O’Brienianum. The next house is still 
gay with Phalaenopsis and Cypripediums, and a few 
good Aerides and Saccolabiums. The Phalaenopsis 
include a grand variety of P. sanderiana and P. 
amabilis, also splendid spikes of P. grandiflora, P. 
grandiflora aurea, and the pretty coloured P. 
luddemanniana. Among Cypripediums are C. 
hirsutissimum, nine blooms; C. Boxallii, C. Argus, 
C. lawrenceanum; many plants of C. Roezlii, C. 
Sedenii candidulum, C. S. cardinale C. Exul,, C. 
bellatulum, C. Calypso; also some nice plants of 
Miltonia Roezlii and M. vexillarium at the cool end 
of the house. 
The Oncidiums in bloom include, amongst others, 
0 . Papilio, O. Kramerianum, and many spikes of O. 
flexuosum. There are some good spikes of O. obryza- 
tum majus; also some magnificent spikes of O. concolor 
and O. sphacelatum. Some good forms of Odonto¬ 
glossum crispum are in bloom, and one remarkable 
variety of O. crispum roseuro, beautifully tinted and 
having a few large, rich spots, ------ 
The Cattleya house is very gay with many plants 
of Cattleya Schroderae, including some grand 
varieties ; also several pieces of C. Mossiae, some 
good forms of C. Mendelii, C. intermedia amethystina, 
C. dolosa, &c. Here may be seen some splendid 
varieties of Laelia purpurata and L. elegans, one 
form of L. purpurata russelliana being particularly 
striking. The perfume of this house is most 
refreshing. 
The Calanthes look quite at home in the Melon 
house, and a row of Tomatos in the Cattleya house 
trained up the glass at the sunny end look very 
promising and are setting at every joint. 
The Orchids and other plants are a source of great 
pleasure to the proprietor, J. Moore, Esq., and are 
taken every possible care of by the intelligent and 
hardworking gardener, W. Johnson. 
* 
Scorching in Vineries. —The disfigurement of Vine 
leaves by scorching is a sight that is all too commonly 
seen in vineries, and one, indeed, that needs a con¬ 
siderable amount of care and watchful attention on 
the part of those in charge to prevent. In not a few 
instances scorching may be laid to the charge of 
faulty glass, and where this is the case the only 
thing to do is to try and minimise the evil as much 
as possible. But not infrequently scorching is 
brought about by incompetent management. 
The houses in accordance with the generally- 
accepted custom are shut up early in the afternoon 
with a good deal of sun-heat and plenty of moisture. 
Perhaps the heating apparatus is defective, or the 
piping insufficient, and thus during the night the 
temperature falls considerably, when a great part of 
the moisture held by the warmer air is deposited as 
little globules of water upon the leaves of the vines. 
If the next morning turns out to be a bright one, and 
the house is kept closely shut up and no air give n until 
the morning is well advanced, these little drops of 
water act as miniature lenses or burning glasses, and 
concentrate the sun’s rays upon the part of the 
leaf they cover, with the result that the tissues of 
that part are practically burnt or scorched. This is 
usually the cause of the ugly brown blotches on 
vine leaves, which ultimately drop out and leave 
holes as if the leaves had been shot at. 
The best methods of preventing the disfiguring of 
the leaves in this case is, first of all, to take care 
that no serious drop is allowed to take place in the 
temperature of the house during the night-time, and 
also that air is given early enough in the morniDg. 
It is advisable, indeed, to leave a crack of air on by 
both top and bottom ventilators all night, if it is 
possible to do so without lowering the temperature 
too much. 
Peaches Stoning. —As every grower knows by 
experience, the process of stoning is the most trying 
ordeal through which Peaches have to pa=s. At 
such a period the greatest care must be taken to 
prevent the trees sustaining a check. Too high 
temperatures, fluctuations of the same, and lack of 
water at the roots have all to be rigidly guarded 
against. It is not wise to unduly stimulate the trees 
by the application of liquid manures. These will be 
of great service after stoning is completed when the 
second swelling takes place. For the present a night 
temperature of about 62® Fahr. may be maintained, 
rising another io° on sunny days. After stoning an 
increase of temperature may be safely given. 
Melons in Frames. —As soon as the heat goes out 
of the linings, the latter should be renewed so that 
the heat of the frame may be kept steady and 
uniform. The mowings from the lawn or pleasure 
grounds generate a very fierce heat, but one that has 
very little " last " in it. This grass, therefore, if 
used at all should be mixed with stable manure, and 
it will then prove of some service. 
Top-dressing Melons. —If the plants are healthy 
and growing freely, vast numbers of roots will soon 
make their appearance through the soil on the 
mounds. A top-dressiDg of good loam given just at 
this time is of the greatest advantage. It is advisable 
to bring the soil into the house a day or two before 
using it so that it may get warmed well through, and 
thus obviate the risk of a check to the plants that 
may well be brought about by the application of cold 
soil directly to the roots. 
Succession Crops. —Where Melons are in great 
demand, and a constant supply expected through the 
summer months, it will be necessary to make a sow¬ 
ing about every three weeks, up till the beginning of 
July, after which time it will be of little use to sow, 
as fruit ripened after October is always of inferior 
quality. Should the young plants not be required, 
it is far better to throw them away and make a fresh 
sowing than it is to allow them to remain in their 
pots until they become starved and comparatively 
worthless. Plants of this kind rarely give satisfac¬ 
tion, and it is therefore only so much time and 
labour lost to plant them for fruiting.—/!. S. G. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
The bedding-out season is now so closely upon us 
that it will be wise to forward all operations in readi¬ 
ness for the operation of the year as many gardeners 
are inclined to consider it. Although the planting 
of hardy flowers is much more extensively practised 
now than it was a few years ago there is still a great 
deal of hurry and haste in making special prepara¬ 
tions for summer. The glory of the Narcissi and 
Hyacinths is over and that of many of the Tulips is 
beginning to wane, and by the end of the present 
month or the beginning of the next the beds will be 
ready for their summer occupants. - 
Ornamental Vases. —When these were taken in 
out of harm’s way last autumn, and stored in safety, 
advantage will have been taken of the dull season to 
clean them up. They may now be brought out and 
returned to their places. Heavier ones whose weight 
precluded the possibility of shifting them may also 
have the old soil cleaned out, the crocks at the 
bottom taken out, washed and replaced. As to the 
outsides of the vases the tastes of the owner must 
be consulted before the scrubbing brush is applied to 
them, as some ladies and gentlemen have a great 
predilection for the venerably old, and thus a few 
minutes work with the scrubbing brush in removing 
some of the ancient moss may not be altogether 
appreciated. The same remarks will apply to stone 
steps upon terraces, etc. 
Calceolarias. —As a rule things generally are so 
congested in the frame-yard, and room of such 
corresponding value, that it is advisable to lighten 
the burden as far as possible. Calceolarias, which 
if obtained from cuttings inserted last autumn will 
by this time have made stocky plants, may be con¬ 
signed forthwith to the beds in which they are to 
bloom, and a frame or two thus set at liberty. As 
we may well be favoured (?) with the visits of frosts 
severe enough to do a deal of damage to unprotected 
subjects it will be necessary to make some arrange¬ 
ments whereby protection may be easily and expedi¬ 
tiously given the plants should occasion require it. 
A few fairly stout, green rods, bent hoop fashion over 
the beds, and their ends stuck firmly in the ground, 
will form a capital framework upon which mats may 
be easily thrown during cold nights. 
Aloes, which are destined to occupy ornamental 
vases during the coming summer, are better placed 
out of doors now. They should be assigned a warm 
corner for the present, however, where they will be 
sheltered naturally, aDd where further covering can 
easily be given if needed. 
Agapanthus umbellatus. —These, also, may be 
given a warm corner outside, if this has not already 
been done. There is little gained by coddling the 
plants up under glass after the beginning of the 
month. Copious supplies of water will be necessary 
and occasional doses of liquid manure will not come 
amiss. 
Wallflowers. — None of our hardy spring flowers 
are mere useful and ornamental than these popular 
subjects, and we may add, none are more easily 
grown. A mistake committee^ by many is that of 
sowing the seed too late, when, as a natural con¬ 
sequence the plants have not sufficient time to 
become thoroughly established before winter sets in. 
The wood, moreover, is not well ripened, and the 
bloom is not so freely produced as it might be. The 
present is a good time to make a sowing. Select a 
sunny position where the soil is not too rich, and 
draw the drills about nine inches apart. The seed¬ 
lings may be thinned out as soon as they are large 
enough to about tnree inches apart, or, better still, 
they may be pricked out fairly closely on a prepared 
piece of soil, and subsequently transplanted at the 
expiration of about six weeks to the positions they 
are to occupy for the summer. 
The following will be found a good selection ; — 
Veitch’s Dwarf Dark Red, Sutton's Dwarf Bedder, 
both yellow and brown varieties, Earliest of All, 
Purple Queen, and Improved Double German. — 
A. S. G. 
