January 26, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
343 
Odontoglossum nebulosum candidissimum, 
Nov. var .—The sepals of this variety are white with 
a few faint tawny blotches at the very base. The 
petals are even purer with similar spotting. The lip 
has an orange band across the base of the terminal 
lobe with a few orange spots on the crest. The 
spots so characteristic of the type have almost 
disappeared from this fine variety. Award of Merit. 
Exhibited by Fred Hardy, Esq., Tyntesfield, Ashton- 
on-Mersey, Cheshire. 
Cypripedium Boissierianum. —This belongs to 
the Selenipedium group, and has similar long 
channelled leaves and numerous flowers on a stem. 
The upper sepal is greenish-yellow with purple lines 
and a white edge. The petals are greenish-yellow 
with a rosy-band on each side of the midrib and 
white edges, they are also much twisted. The lip is 
green with brown spots on the claw. Botanical 
Certificate. Exhibited by Thos. Statter, Esq. 
gardener, Mr. R. Johnson), Stand Hall, Man¬ 
chester. 
t » r 
TIE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
Sowing and Planting. 
When the ground is sufficiently dry to work upon, 
sowing and planting may be commenced. It is, 
however, far better to keep off the land so long as 
it is at all sticky. Peas will be one of the first to 
demand attention. The thooghful cultivator will 
have made due preparation for sowing these by 
reserving a piece of ground so that it may be dug 
and sown at the same time, for if it has been pre¬ 
viously turned over, the late frost will have caused 
it to become pasty on the surface, and not at all in a 
fit condition to work upon. If dug and sown as the 
work proceeds much valuable time will be saved, and 
the soil will be in a more fit condition for the reception 
of the seed. The varieties most suitable for sowing 
now are Gradus, Daisy, Duke of York, Sutton’s 
Early Marrow, Chelsea Gem, Exonian, and American 
Wonder. Where convenient, cover the rows with 
pieces of glass, as this will prevent the heavy rains 
from beating down the soil, and will to some extent 
absorb the heat from the sun’s rays, thus causing 
the seed to germinate more freely. Marrow Peas, 
as a rule, absorb more moisture than round seeded 
kinds, therefore, if the rains can be kept off, there is 
less risk of them becoming soddened or rotting 
through excess of moisture. Do not sow too deeply, 
from three quarters to an inch being ample. 
On warm borders that have not been dug, a sowing 
of Carrots, Radishes, and Turnips may be made as 
digging proceeds. This cannot be too deeply 
impressed on those who have heavy land to contend 
with, for if such were dug up in the autumn and 
allowed to remain so through the winter, it will now 
be so soppy that it would be with great difficulty 
worked upon. Much pressing work will soon be at 
hand, therefore, all that can be done now ought to 
receive attention. Many seeds may be sown in 
pans, boxes, or on hot-beds, and such should receive 
attention when the weather is unfavourable for out¬ 
door work. Onions, for an early supply, may be 
sown in pans or on slight hot-beds, and when large 
enough to handle should be pricked out. Sowings 
made in pans do not always receive the attention 
they require, as they are allowed sometimes to get 
dry, thus giving the young plants a check which 
often causes them to go to seed prematurely. When 
seeds of this class are sown thus early, they need 
careful attention and constant watchfulness to prevent 
them either becoming drawn or over crowded. No 
plants can make satisfactory progress unless they 
have plenty of room both for the roots and foliage to 
develop. Onions being gross feeding plants need 
particular attention in this respect. The ground on 
which it is intended to finally plant them should be 
dug the first favourable opportunity (if this work is 
not already done) in order that the soil may be 
settled down before the time arrives for planting. A 
liberal dressing of lime should be given where the 
soil is at all deficient of this useful element. Soot 
may also be added, which will be found beneficial to 
the crop when growing. Some are apt to make 
mistakes in growing too many summer vegetables, 
not affording room for those that have to keep up a 
supply through the winter. 
Seakale in some places is thought much of, while 
in others it is seldom asked for, and when sent in is 
not used. Where, however, this useful vegetable is 
in request, the sets can be prepared during bad 
weather, and if covered with some decayed leaf soil 
to exclude frost and keep them moist until such 
times as the ground is in a fit condition for working, 
much valuable time will be saved, for new buds will 
have formed on them which will render them more 
easy to plant. Winter Spinach with some is one of 
the chief vegetables, therefore it will be necessary to 
have a good breadth of this to keep up a supply ; 
while with others Asparagus is more sought after 
than any other. Where this is the case a good sized 
plot of ground will be necessary to grow sufficient 
roots for lifting. Asparagus is by no means difficult 
to manage, but as it takes two years to grow the 
crowns large enough for forcing, it is not always 
possible to afford sufficient ground for that purpose. 
Where, however, the forced Asparagus must be had, 
some of the summer crops must give place to pro¬ 
duce the roots. We sometimes see it recommended 
to sow Brussels Sprouts in heat ; few people, how¬ 
ever, care for these so long as Peas, French Beans, 
and Cauliflower are to be had; it is therefore better 
to occupy the space that would be taken up with 
growing the plants with something needed more 
pressing, as these can be had quite soon enough if 
sown in the open ground .—Kitchen Gardener. 
When a thaw sets in after a few days sharp frost, 
especially if the ground was in a wet condition pre¬ 
viously, some little time should elapse before working 
upon the ground is attempted. Gravel paths too are 
apt to " pick up ” rendering it anything but comfort¬ 
able walking upon them. As soon as the frost is 
well out of the ground, therefore, the roller must be 
passed over them several times to keep them in 
something like condition. Where it is proposed to 
re-dress walks, the top surface should be first broken 
up, rolled, the new material placed upon the top and 
the whole given repeated rollings until the necessary 
firmness has been attained. 
As soon as the soil has dried somewhat the 
planting of deciduous trees and shrubs may be pro¬ 
ceeded with. Where it is intended to make plantations 
of roses, and with a view to this intent the ground 
has been prepared during autumn by liberal 
additions of manure and thorough trenching, plant¬ 
ing may be conducted as soon as thought fit, and 
carried out to a finish, if the weather still continues 
mild and favourable ; whilst established plants may 
be attended to for pruning. In the southern 
counties the pruning and nailing of wall subjects 
may also be commenced, as where there is much of 
it to do a great deal of time is called for. In the 
northern districts, however, it is not advisable to 
commence too early. 
Where the autumn planting of Pinks and Carnations 
is practised in preference to the methods of wintering 
them in pots in cold-frames, the plants must be 
looked over, and in the event of their being lifted 
partly out of the ground should be pressed back into 
their proper place once more. The planting of 
anemones also may now be performed, as well as 
any Narcissi that have hitherto heen passed over. 
Seeds of the tender Annuals that were collected last 
autumn must be looked over and cleaned, as it will 
soon be time to sow them, more especially those 
which need to be placed in heat to germinate. They 
should therefore be neatly done up in packets and 
be correctly labelled so as to be easily found when 
required, thus saving a good deal of valuable time 
and perhaps not a little trouble later on. 
-—f*- 
Vines.— The earliest pot Vines will now be setting 
their fruit. Thinning should therefore be commenced 
whilst the berries are in an early stage, when the 
operation is much more readily performed, for if left 
until the bunches have become crowded the danger 
ofpricking ” is considerably increased. Such 
shoots as are sufficiently advanced should be stopped 
at a couple of joints beyond the bunch so as to throw 
the vigour of the plant into the work of swelling the 
berries. Syringings will now, of course, be out of 
the question, but the requisite moisture must be 
maintained by the aid of copious dampings down. 
The night temperature should range between 65® 
and 70® Fahr., rising to 808 or 850 in the day by sun 
heat. The other houses in which the buds are just 
commencing to break evenly may be lifted from their 
horizontal position before the shoots get long enough 
to endanger them in the removal, and tied in their 
permanent positions. The night temperature here 
should be about 57° Fahr., the usual routine of 
syringings and dampings being still kept up. Houses 
that have not yet been started must be aired freely on 
all possible occasions. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —As the flowers con¬ 
tinue to expand they should be gone over with the 
pollenising brush daily, choosing the middle of the 
day as the best time for operating. As soon as the 
trees have set for fruit the regular morning and 
evening syringings must be again commenced. 
Disbudding must also receive careful attention, but 
must be gradually performed, first removing the 
gross growing superfluous shoots. As the foliage 
expands, it is above all things necessary to see that 
too hard forcing is not practised, or too stuffy an 
atmosphere allowed, or the leaves will be weak and 
thin in texture. Plenty of air, of course, avoiding 
draughts, is an absolute necessity if clean and healthy 
foliage is desired. 
Figs.— Plants in pots which are swelling their 
fruit will need careful attention with regard to water, 
and where the trees are carrying good crops manure 
water may be given occasionally with great advan¬ 
tage. A sharp look out must be kept for the appear¬ 
ance of bug, which usually infests the plants to a 
greater or less degree, and usually makes its appear¬ 
ance at this stage of their growth. The temperature 
here may now range about 65° by night, rising to 75° 
or 8o° by day. a moist and growing atmosphere being 
always maintained. 
Strawberries. —Batches of these which were 
early introduced into the heat will now be in flower. 
A little assistance may be given these forward 
subjects to set their fruit by going over them once 
or twice with a camel's hair brush. Other plants 
which are being brought on must have the syringe 
kept vigorously at work among them to keep the 
foliage clean and free from the attacks of red spider, 
which is ever so partial to the Strawberry. The 
water supply must also receive careful consideration. 
Melons and Cucumbers.— The fermenting 
material which is to be used in making up the beds 
for these should be turned twice or thrice before 
using, two or three days being suffered to elapse 
between each turning. In making up the beds the 
material used must be trodden as firmly as possible, 
for as decomposition proceeds the bed is sure to 
sink more or less—an undesirable proceeding to say 
the least of it. It is therefore necessary to reduce 
the probable sinking of the bed as much as possible, 
and this can best be accomplished by firm making 
up. The seeds may be sown singly in thumb pots, a 
bottom heat of from 75° to 80® being essential to 
quick germination. Pot the seedlings on as soon as 
they are large enough into 60-sized pots, and keep 
them near the glass until they are ready for planting 
out, taking care to afford them support if necessary, 
Continue the pruning and nailing of wall trees, 
weather, of course, permitting, so as to get the work 
completed before the swelling of the buds renders 
the operation somewhat dangerous. Where the 
ground is in good condition the planting of young 
trees may take place on a prepared situation. Stan¬ 
dard Apple trees, although not in need of anything 
like a liberal use of the pruning knife will also need 
a little attention. The pruning of these, however, 
should be restricted to the removal of cross branches, 
or of those of too gross growing a character which 
run away with the strength of the tree that ought to 
be otherwise utilised in the production of fruit. 
Branches of this kind should, therefore, be cut clean 
out; the wounds being subsequently dressed with 
tar to preserve the tree from the action of the 
weather. Remove all prunings to the rubbish heap 
as soon as circumstances permit, as nothing gives a 
place a more untidy appearance than to leave them 
lying strewn about in everybody’s way. 
Strawberries. —Plantations of these may now be 
given (if they have not already had during the past 
autumn) a dressing of well rotted stable manure. 
Fork this in between the rows, but take care not to 
disturb the roots any more than can possibly be 
helped.The manuring and trenchiog ofpiecesofground 
which it is decided to devote to the culture of St raw- 
berries must be taken in hand without delay, or their 
planting will, as a natural result, be very late.— 
A.S.G. 
