March 19, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
401 
the stokers, temporary or permanent, correctly in¬ 
formed as to the degree at which each and every house 
should be kept. In Vineries and Peach houses that 
are being forced, the temperature varies from week 
to week as the Vines or Peaches advance, and in 
relation to the outside temperature. 
The accompanying illustrations show the Simpli¬ 
city Holder, both when empty and when full, that is, 
with the thermometer placed in position. The 
holder consists of an expansible ladder, the pivots 
and sockets at the joints being of brass. It is made 
in this particular fashion so as to take in thermo¬ 
meters of different sizes which may already be in 
use. The pointers on the side wires are made to 
move up and down so that they can be placed at any 
given point to show the stokers what the night and 
day temperatures are to be. All the gardener has to 
do is to move these pointers to the desired figure and 
the thing is done. This saves him all the time and 
trouble of writing labels or cards every week, or even 
at shorter intervals, when the houses being forced 
are rapidly advancing. The men in charge of the 
houses have no need to trouble the gardener about 
the desired temperatures, as they can, while passing 
through the houses, merely look at the pointers 
which indicate what the gardener desires the 
temperature to be. 
To fix the thermometer in position, the operator 
lays hold of the sides of the ladder and draws it out 
to the requisite width. Then the thermometer is 
hung upon the projecting knob of the brass disc at the 
top, and the ladder pressed against its sides to adjust 
the width ; last of all the brass pointers are turned 
over the face of the glass and pulled up or down to the 
desired places. The brass disc is for indicating the 
temperature to which the house may be allowed to 
rise by means of sun heat. The Simplicity Holder 
and Indicator may be obtained from Mr. A. Outram, 
F.R.H.S., 7, Moore Park Road, Fulham, London, 
S.W., who is also the agent for the Indispensable 
Sweeping and Collecting Machine, patented by 
Messrs. Sutton & Pull. 
- mfm - 
KitcHen G arden Calendar. 
Seed Sowing and Planting at this time of the year 
are such important operations that do tiller of the 
soil can afford to neglect them, but, momentous as 
these are, the preparation of the soil previous is of 
quite as much consequence, for it is useless to sow or 
plant unless the ground has been previously well 
tilled. All growers of first-class vegetables should 
know that much depends on the state of the soil at 
the time the crops are put in ; and those who pro¬ 
duce the finest samples spare no pains to thoroughly 
work the ground so as to get it in the finest possible 
condition. The present season has been an excep¬ 
tional one for outside work, so that there ought not 
to be any difficulty in getting in the crops. Trans¬ 
planting those that have been raised under glass will 
now be occupying the attention of many gardeners ; 
but such work must be done with discretion or 
failure will be sure to follow. There is nothing 
gained by hurrying on such work simply because the 
time of year has arrived when certain things are 
usually done. If the soil cannot for some reason or 
other be got into proper condition, better defer the 
work for a few days than to sow or plant when in 
such a state. Those that have been raised under 
glass being more tender than plants grown in the 
open, every care must be taken to thoroughly harden 
them off before planting, and to afford them protec¬ 
tion afterwards, till such times as they are able to 
take care of themselves. 
Onions that have been growing on hot-beds will 
require special care ; they must be carefully lilted 
with all the roots possible attached, and planted 
sufficiently deep to keep them in an upright position. 
Cauliflower ought to be lifted with balls of earth 
attached and planted carefully with a trowtl, press¬ 
ing the soil firmly round ihe roots. Those that have 
been potted will suffer less than any lifted from the 
frame, but care must be exercised to prevent the 
balls of earth from getting dry after planting. 
Peas that were raised in pots should be allowed 
ample room when transferred to the open ground, a 
space of 6 in. being allowed between the clumps in 
the row. It is a good plan to put stakes to them as 
soon as planted, and protect with evergreen boughs 
placed alongside the rows to keep off the cold winds. 
Lettuce must be watched closely, as both birds and 
slugs are fond of the tender leaves, and will clear off 
whole breadths almost as soon as planted. Leeks, 
in some places, are in great demand. When well 
grown and properly blanched, they are a fine whole¬ 
some vegetable. To obtain large stems early in the 
season, it is necessary to raise plants under glass, 
and these must be planted out at suitable distances 
apart, on well prepared ground, that they may 
become developed ; if not liberally treated, plants so 
raised are liable to run to seed. 
French Beans are very troublesome just now, 
especially when grown in houses with other things. 
The bright sun in the daytime, accompanied with 
cold winds, prevents sufficient air being admitted to 
keep the plants healthy, and the cold nights neces¬ 
sitate more fire-heat, which encourages the produc¬ 
tion of red spider. A close watch must be kept to 
prevent this troublesome pest from making headway. 
Potatos that are growing in frames should have 
sufficient space allowed to prevent the foliage from 
coming in contact in the glass, for when this happens 
the frost often does considerable damage. It is not 
advisable to cover with mats more than can be 
avoided, as they prevent a free circulation of air. 
Peas that are showing flower must on no account be 
allowed to suffer for want of water at the roots. As 
soon as the pods begin to swell liquid manure should 
be afforded. Asparagus in frames will be greatly 
benefited by a dressing of artificial manure to be 
washed into the soil with water heated to a tempera¬ 
ture of 85 or 90 degrees Fahr. Pay attention to 
collecting and preparing manure for Mushroom 
beds; those that are becoming exhausted should 
have a slight sprinkling of salt and be afterwards 
watered with tepid water .—Kitchen Gardener. 
Tne Orcftifl Grower’s Calendar. 
Oncidium varicosum Rogersii. —This beautiful 
Oncid is, we are pleased to see, being again imported 
in large quantities. The condition, too, of the con¬ 
signment introduced by Messrs. Lewis & Co., is 
simply grand, the plants being plump and beauti¬ 
fully leaved, and in excellent trim for putting into 
baskets or on rafts, as the nature of the plant sug¬ 
gests. As very little compost is necessary for their 
requirements it is advisable to fix the plants firmly to 
the rafts by some thin copper wire, after placing a 
few lumps of peat and live sphagnum moss thereon 
for the plants to rest on and root into After they 
become established and are rooting freely, it may 
be necessary to add a little more of the compost 
along the sides of the rhizomes without covering the 
same. The best position for them is a shady posi¬ 
tion in the Cattleya house. At any rate this is the 
place for them in winter, but during the summer 
months they will do well in the moist atmosphere of 
the cool house. For such small plants they carry 
enormous scapes of their bright yellow flowers, 
which if left on until they fade takes a great deal of 
the vigour out of the plants, so that it is as well to 
bear this in mind, and to relieve the plants by cut¬ 
ting the spikes as soon as the last flower expands. 
This wiil save a lot of after trouble and annoyance, 
for with every care and attention it is exceedingly 
difficult to keep them in good condition for long. 
Odontoglossum Pescatorei.— Although we do 
not think this Odontoglot will ever be so popular as 
O. crispum amongst amateurs, it is nevertheless a 
very good companion, and one that does well under 
similar treatment. There appears a growing desire 
to grow it specially for cut flowers. The grand, 
branching spikes of a well-grown specimen are very 
taking, but the individual flowers are flimsy by com¬ 
parison with those of its rival. 
Polypodium Fibre.— I mentioned some time ago 
that we were giving this new substitute for peat a 
trial. It may, therelore, be interesting to readers of 
The Gardening World, if I say what we think of 
it. At first I was prejudiced against it, even for 
Odontoglossums, but on giving it a fair trial we find 
cool Orchids are rather fond of it. There is one ob¬ 
jection to it, and that is that after a time it becomes 
through the constant watering covered with a kind 
of Liverwort, which, if allowed to grow, shoots the 
water off, and leaves the compost underneath the 
surface dry ; but as we repot all our cooi stuff each 
season it does not affect us much. There is no ques¬ 
tions about the Odontoglossums rooting in it, and 
the foliage of the plants is of a deep green hue. 
We used some for Cattleyas, but with very little 
success, in fact, we are replacing it with peat. It 
seems too close and spongy for all large-rooting 
plants, but for such things as Mdtonias, Tricopilias, 
Odontoglossums, &c., it does very well. When re¬ 
ceived it is dust-dry, so that it is advisable to damp 
it, and pick as many of the rhizomes out as possible 
before using it.— C. 
HARDY FRUIT BARDEN. 
Apricots.— The sharp frosts have tried these sorely 
of late, and there will be little chance of a crop of 
fruit unless the trees are properly covered each 
night. Permanent covering in the shape of branches 
of evergreens or heather inserted between the boughs 
of the trees will keep off a lot of frost, and are much 
in favour with many gardeners. Where the walls 
are furnished with good copings, which facilitate the 
fixing of rollers and the use of blinds, there is 110 
doubt that it pays to give protection in this 
way. A few light spars of wood placed against the 
wall at a sufficient distance to clear the trees and to 
allow the rollers to work with freedom will be 
necessary. There is thus no great expense of fixing, 
and the blinds can be rolled up or down at will, 
thereby giving the trees the full benefit of the sun 
and light. 
Pruning and Training— All pruning, tying, and 
nailing should be pushed on vigorously apd com¬ 
pleted at an early date, for the buds have swollen to 
a good size, and many of them will not be long in 
bursting after the advent of more genial weather. 
The planting season, too, is practically at its end, 
and any odd jobs that still remain should be 
finished as soon as possible. 
Budding Birds.— Bullfinches are often designated 
thus, but the epithet “ budding ” includes other 
birds as well, not the least of which is the ubiquitous 
sparrow. The latter feathered marauder is always 
with us, but at no time of the year is he a greater 
nuisance than now. He seems to delight in 
mischief for mischief's sake, and buds of all sorts of 
fruit trees fall under his busy bill. It is an im¬ 
possibility to kill all the sparrows, and a seeming 
impossibility to frighten them, consequently the 
gaidener is at a loss for really effectual means of 
protecting his plants. A few threads of cotton 
twisted about Currants, Gooseberries, Plums, etc., 
will, however, be of some service, and an occasional 
shot may assist in the good work. It is the sparrows 
and tits that generally do the mischief, for bullfinches 
are not often present in sufficient numbers to do a 
great deal of harm. — A. S. G. 
SOCIETIES. 
PRESTON AND FULWOOD HORTICULTURAL — 
March gth. 
The annual spring show of the above society held 
in the Public Hall, Preston, was opened on the 
9th inst. by the Mayoress, in the absence of the 
President, Alderman Wood. There were present 
the Mayor, Alderman Dunn, several members of the 
Corporation, and other gentlemen and ladies. 
In the centre of the hall was J. B. Dixon, Esq's, 
first prize group formed in a circle, and beyond this, 
but separated by cross tables, two oblong groups by 
Messrs. Payne, Morley & Co., nurserymen, were 
tastefully arranged, and the prizes were awarded in 
the order named. On the platform, in front of the 
orchestra, were the Palms and a collection of foliage 
plants sent by the Corporation ; and in front of these 
on the floor of the room, the Azaleas, the small 
stove and greenhouse plants, pot Roses, Cinerarias, 
Deutzias, Dielytras, &c., were arranged round the 
sides of the hall. In the nurserymen’s class, Mr. 
Payne, Fulwood, took the lead in the Hyacinth 
classes, also with Azaleas. He also exhibited a neat 
collection of Orchids, not for competition, Messrs. 
Morley & Co. taking first for Roses. The honours 
in the bouquet classes were equally divided between 
Mr. Troughton, nurseryman, and Mr. Payne. 
In the amateurs' class J. B. Dixon, Esq., Ribbles- 
dale House, Preston, took the lion’s share of the 
prizes, especially in the bulb classes, and out of forty- 
six entries he secured 23 first’s, 18 second’s, 3 thirds. 
Mr. Dixon, who is the treasurer of the society, is his 
own gardener, and his exhibits are always creditable, 
his Hyacinths being always up to the mark. He 
