April 30, 1898, 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
555 
Amongst those in bloom we noted Cypripedium 
mastersianum, C. Exul and C. cbamber-leeanum, a 
hybrid between two species indicated in the Dame. 
It has perhaps a greater leaning towards C. 
chamberlainianum than to the other parent. The 
upper sepals of C. violaceum, another hybrid, are 
brown, with a greenish-yellow edge. The petals are 
violet-purple, with a brownish base; and other parts 
of the flower show the influence of C. hirsutissimum 
and C. villosum, which were the parents. The 
upper sepal of C. Druryi delectum is ot a soft yellow, 
with a maroon midrib; and the'petals are golden- 
yellow. C. koffmannianum (insigne x Boxalli) has 
the dorsal sepal richly blotched with brown on a 
greenish-yellow ground, and the upper portion is 
blotched with violet. A plant of Odontoglossum 
cuspidatum platyglossum carries a large panicle of 
flowers. In passing through the various divisions of 
the Orchid and some other houses we noted a la) er 
of the midribs of tobacco leaves laid under the 
benches, generally over or near the hotwater pipes. 
Heat and moisture cause a slight vapour of nicotine 
to rise in the house, thus driving away or killing 
greenfly and other insects. 
Araucaria excelsa is one of the specialities of this 
establishment. One large, cool, shaded house is 
filled with plants ranging from i ft. to 4 ft. high. 
The bulk of them consists of the typical form, but 
there are several interesting and distinct varieties, 
of which A. e. glauca is, perhaps, the best known, 
and characterised by the sea-green hue of its foliage. 
The branchlets and twigs of A. e. compacta are 
densely crowded together, giving the growth of the 
trees a compact appearance. Another house is 
filled with plants 6 ins. to 12 ins. high, all in the 
picture of health. The method of propagation is 
entirely by cuttings. The compost in which they 
are grown consists mostly of leaf soil with a little 
loam and well-rotted manure. 
Fine foliage plants of various kinds are grown in 
considerable quantities, besides those already men¬ 
tioned as being in the propagating pit. Curculigo 
recurvata variegata, a Palm-like plant with 
undivided leaves, is in very fine condition. Of a 
useful decorative size, and well coloured are the 
plants of Pandanus Veitchi. Vriesia fenestralis is 
handsomely netted with dark green on a light green 
ground. Citrus sinensis, the Otaheite Orange, in 
compact specimens about a foot high, is well fur¬ 
nished with fruit. Dracaena Bruanti, having the 
young foliage deeply tinted with reddish-bronze, is a 
plant that is very popular on the Continent, and is 
grown at this nursery in considerable quantity. 
The longs drooping sprays of Asparagus Sprengeri 
are very effective and graceful. Well known and 
useful plants are Eucharis grandiflora, E. Mastersi, 
Sibthorpia europaea variegata, and Saxifraga sar- 
mentosa tricolor superba, the latter thriving well 
here, and producing handsomely-coloured foliage. 
Palms constitute one of the leading features of the 
establishment, the span-roofed houses being con¬ 
structed so as to accommodate plants of various size. 
There are also some rare species in the collection. 
The long, black spines on the leaves of Oncosperma 
Van Houttei remind one of those of an Astrocaryum. 
The species has pinnate leaves, and is, moreover 
allied to Areca. The huge undivided leaves of 
Phoenicophorum sechellarum are always striking and 
of noble appearance. The leaves of Areca triandra 
are pinnate and. divided at the apex like those of a 
Geonoma. Washingtonia robusta has fan-shaped 
leaves furnished with a thin fringe of white filaments 
at the edges of the segments. Here also are fine 
plants of Licuala grandis 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, and 
furnished with twelve to sixteen well-developed leaves 
each. Livistona rotundifolia is a handsome fan 
Palm, with orbicular leaves, fingered at the edges. 
No Palms are more popular or more extensively 
grown on the Continent than Kentia fosteriana, K. 
balmoreana, and Cocos weddeliana, which are culti¬ 
vated in pots or tubs according to size. The bulk of 
the plants are, however, of useful, decorative, or 
market size, and confront the visitor in every house 
or every second one. Areca Baueri is also very 
abundant, in sizes varying from 1 ft. to 3 ft. high, 
and upwards to specimens of gigantic size. In the 
case of seedlings for market two or three are often put 
into one pot to make little specimens well furnished 
with foliage. One block of four large houses practi 
eally constitutes one building, for the interior is con¬ 
tinuous and the temperature accordingly uniform in 
all. The Palms here are mostly of large size 
with the foliage arching over every pathway. Kentias, 
Arecas and Latanias are most abundant here. Areca 
sapida is similar to A. Baueri, but may be recognised 
by its much paler petioles. Another house is filled 
with Latania borbonica, 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, and mixed 
with Kentia balmoreana in fine condition. 
The next house entered was filled with Kentia 
fosteriana, 3 yds. to 4 yds. high, and grown in tubs. A 
still more lofty house accommodated the largest 
specimens on the premises, or such of them as were 
at home. Some of the biggest, consisting of Sabal 
Adansoni and Areca Baueri were at the Ghent show, 
where they attracted a great amount of attention 
from visitors, as they towered above everything else 
in the exhibition, and took the first prize aloDg with 
others in a class for Palms. M. Ed. Pynaert-Van 
Geert exhibited in eighteen classes and took as many 
prizes. Other huge specimens in this house were 
Latania borbonica,Chamerops humilis.Chamaedorea 
Dermesti, Areca sapida, Phoenix reclinata, Phoenix 
canariensis and Chamerops Stauracantha, with orbi¬ 
cular, very deeply divided glaucous leaves. It is 
14 ft. to 16 ft. high, and the largest specimens of its 
kind in Belgium. Kentia fosteriana variegata 
(panachee) has its leaves more or less heavily striped 
and banded with yellow, and is unique in its way. 
-- 
Kitchen B arflen Galenflar. 
Week’s Work. 
French Beans. —To have these early it is necessary 
that some pains and trouble be taken both in pre¬ 
paring the ground and protecting the young plants 
as soon as they appear through the soil. In but few 
districts is it safe to allow the plants to go unpro¬ 
tected till the first week in June, as a very slight 
frost will cut them down. If seed be sown now, and 
the weather is favourable, the young plants will 
make their appearance about the middle of May ; 
therefore, to make them safe from injury hoops 
should be put over the rows on which mats or 
canvass can be placed to afford protection at night. 
Runner varieties grow very fast when the weather 
is favourable ; but, as a rule, they will come to no 
harm for a fortnight or three weeks from the time 
the young plants make their appearance. Dwarf 
kinds are more easily protected as they do not grow 
so rapidly, and most of them will withstand two or 
three degrees of frost. It is, however, not safe to 
allow them to remain exposed at night till all danger 
of frost is past. So far, the spring has been dry 
with cold uncongenial weather, so that the growth of 
all vegetables has been slow. 
Peas have suffered from the cold winds and frosty 
nights, and these together with the absence of rain 
have somewhat retarded progress. Another sowing 
should be made as soon as the former ones make 
their appearance through the soil, choosing some of 
the main crop or late varieiies such as Autocrat and 
Carter’s Michaelmas. The former sowings should 
have the stakes put to them as soon as they are a 
couple or three or inches high. It may be necessary 
where the ground is light to have recourse to water¬ 
ing the early lots, as the ground owing to the 
absence of rain has become dry; but this should 
not be resorted to unless actually necessary, as the 
water cools the soil. 
Potato planting ought now to be brought to a 
close as soon as possible, as the growth will not have 
made sufficient progress to suffer should we be visited 
with late spring frosts. Another sowing of Carrots may 
now be made, selecting such varieties where the soil 
is not deep, as Matchless, Red Intermediate, Model, 
and Scarlet Perfection. The former should be sown 
in drills at least 13 in. apart. The earlier sowings 
should now be thinned, leaving the plants about 4 in. 
from each other. Beetroot for an early suppply 
must also be thinned, allowing ample room for the 
plants to develop. The main sowing should now be 
made unless in places where the soil is very fertile, 
then it would be better to defer doing so till towards 
the end of May as the roots are apt to grow too 
coarse. Broccoli of all kinds should now be sown 
choosing an open piece of ground or one facing the 
north, as on such the plants grow more sturdy than 
on hot dry borders facing south. 
Should the Turnip fly make its appearance the 
ground should be kept moist and the plants 
occasionally dusted over with lime. We often see 
plants riddled with these troublesome little 
creatures, in fact many of them are eaten off as soon 
as they make their appearance through the soil, and 
the gardener is sorely tried to get sufficient plants 
for his requirements. A rich fertile seed bed and 
plenty of moisture to assist the plants to make their 
growth will usually prevent any serious attacks. 
Turnips will now grow more readily, particularly if 
assisted by frequent waterings. Small sowings 
should, therefore, be made about every three weeks 
to keep up a supply of nice crisp tender roots. 
Celery will now need attention, plants ought to 
be pricked out as soon as they are large enough to 
handle. If a gentle hot-bed can be afforded them in 
cold districts, so much the better, but failing this a 
warm border that has been liberally manured and 
where an abundant supply of water can be given 
will suit them well. Celery should suffer no check 
at any time. The young plants from the late 
sowings in the open ground will now be making their 
appearance, and these should be assisted by gentle 
waterings till such times as we have some rain. 
Tomato plants ought now to be potted on and 
grown in a gentle heat under glass until the weather 
is favourable for putting them out. Air should be 
admitted freely on all favourable occasions, that the 
plants may be short jointed and sturdy. Pay parti¬ 
cular attention to all newly planted vegetables such 
as Onions, Leeks, Cauliflower, Cabbage, and Lettuce, 
and see that they do not in any way suffer for want 
of water; at the same time do not sodden the soil, 
as this will retard progress. Vegetables in pits and 
frames will now need special care as the soil soon 
becomes dry. French Beans, Peas, and Potatos 
will all need watering, and both the former will be 
greatly benefited by gentle syringing when the 
lights are closed in the afternoon. See that there is 
an ample supply of all kinds of herbs and salads, as 
these will now be in constant demand .—Kitchen 
Gardener. 
Tlie Oicliifl Brower ’s Calendar. 
The rather sharp spring frosts which have been 
pretty prevalent since the last calendar have 
necessitated our turning on the heat in the cool 
houses the last thing at night; and as a help to keep 
the temperature from going down too low, we have 
put the blinds down also. This protects plants that 
are hanging up near the roof glass ; but the blinds 
should be pulled up again as soon as the sun rises. 
A little care in this direction saves firing hard, and 
at the same time helps the plants considerably. 
In the warmer divisions, the fires must be kept 
well in hand, for although the sun at times is power¬ 
ful, the cold east winds prevent our putting on 
much air even by the bottom ventilators; and unless 
it can pass over the warm pipes before it reaches the 
plants it is not beneficial to the plants. Careful 
shading, as before advised,and a judicious use of the 
heating apparatus is much the best at this season. 
Cypripedium hirsutissimum is a most useful all¬ 
round slipper, flowering well under anything like 
reasonable conditions. A medium temperature, too, 
suits it well, so that most amateurs may grow it. It 
is just now in flower, side by side, with the newer 
introduction C. Chamberlainianum, which appears 
to me very much like a geographical form of C. hirsu¬ 
tissimum. The difference only seems that the one 
has the colour on the petals and the other on the 
pouch. However that may be, they are certainly 
both worthy of a place in even a small collection, on 
account of their good growing properties. 
Miltonia vexillarium growing in the inter¬ 
mediate house should be closely looked after for 
yellow thrips which soon play sad havoc with the 
youDg growths and also the spikes, which will soon 
be in sight as they show before the growths are above 
half made up. Dust a little tobacco powder into the 
growths, as this makes them shift to the outside, 
then fumigate, and those that the powder 
does not kill will soon be got rid of. The same 
applies to M. Roezlii which, however, grows best 
when placed where it can get the shade and heat of 
the warmest division. 
Trichopilias. —Where room is limited, a few of 
these dwarf-growing Orchids may be grown with 
advantage. We have just now the pretty T. crispa 
in flower, which is much admired. The plants do 
best in pots or pans, which may be suspended near 
the glass. Very little compost should be placed 
about the roots ; and as they are very impatient of 
much moisture at the roots they should be allowed 
