March 6, 1897. 
428 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
its allies. The lip also has the characteristic blotch 
of D. leechianum. It would seem then that D. 
nobile nobilius is chiefly responsible for the extra 
purple shading of the sepals and petals. The hybrid 
was effected by Mr. James Cypher, Cheltenham, and 
flowered in 1893, probably for the first time. It 
flowered quite recently, however, in the collection of 
T. McMeekin, Esq., Falkland Park, South Norwood 
Hill. 
A fine Odontoglossum crlspum. —A splendid 
variety of this popular species turned up at the Sale 
Rooms of Messrs. Protheroe & Morris, Cheapside, 
on the 26th ult., and caused quite a sensation 
amongst the buyers. The flowers, of which there 
were twelve on the raceme, measured 5 in. across 
each way; the sepals and petals were pure white, 
and the latter measured 2J in. in length, by i§ in. in 
width. The lip was white, tinted with lemon yellow, 
and having four to five small spots in the centre ; it 
was if in. long and 1 in. wide. The piece consisted of 
seven pseudobulbs in fine condition. It was finally 
knocked down to H. T. Pitt, Esq., Rosslyn, Stam¬ 
ford Hill, for thirty-one guineas. A piece of the 
largest-flowered Odontoglossum excellens went for 
five guineas; and O. crispum guttatum fetched 
eleven guineas. Coelogyne cristata alba was bought 
for six-and-a-half guineas. The rather uncommon 
Dendrobium anosmum leucopterum fetched six-and- 
a-half guineas; and D. heterocarpum phillipinense 
was knocked down for £2. This variety, curiously 
enough, is scentless; the flowers are slightly paler 
than those of the type, aDd freely produced in 
clusters of three to four. 
Dendrobium nobile sanderianum. — This 
handsome variety is generally admitted to come 
nearest to the well-known D. nobile nobilius in the 
richness of its colouring. The sepals and petals are 
of a rich purple almost to the base, which is 
considerably paler. The flowers differ considerably 
from the last named in form, being shorter and 
broader in every part, and therefore rounder as a 
whole. The lip is particularly noticeable in this 
respect, the front portion being very broad and 
rounded, while the blotch is large and rich crimson- 
purple in hue. It flowered recently in the collection 
of T. McMeekin, Esq., Falkland Park, South 
Norwood Hill, under the care of Mr. A. Wright. 
» !• — 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS AT EASTWELL 
PARR, ASHFORD. 
At the present time there is a grand display of 
Primulas at Eastwell Park. A large span-roof house 
is devoted entirely to about five hundred plants 
beautifully grown, and most profusely flowered, 
many of the plants being over 2ft. through and throw¬ 
ing up grand spikes of flower well above the foliage, 
forming beautiful pyramids of glorious flowers. The 
following varieties were most conspicuous :—Sutton’s 
Giant White, both plain leaved and fern-leaved; 
Giant Pink, Giant Crimson, Pearl, Sutton’s Reading 
Scarlet, and Reading Blue, all represented in many 
dozens of well-grown plants beautifully arranged. 
The charming and varied colours contrast splendidly 
and produce a beautiful effect. 
| Cinerarias are equally well done. A similar house 
contains between 200 and 300 well-grown specimens j 
many being 3 ft. through and 2 ft. high, well 
branched, with magnificent foliage, and forming 
perfect pyramids of foliage and flower spikes, just 
opening their bright coloured flowers. They will 
shortly be a grand sight, the strain being Sutton’s 
Superb, and rightly named too ; for those in flower 
are simply magnificent. 
Calceolarias occupya third house,there being about 
300 plants, many being over 2 ft. through, with fine, 
strong, well developed foliage. They are of good, 
free branching habit, and of a splendid strain, being 
Sutton’s Superb, which is so well known and greatly 
in demand. These will be a grand sight ere long. 
Mr. H. Walters, the gardener, is to be congratulated 
upon his success, for a better lot of plants it would 
be impossible to find,— Rusticus. 
* 
It is really wonderful to see the change that has 
come over the face of nature since the fine weather 
that started with the third week in February. At 
the time of writing the buds on many subjects are on 
the point of bursting. Forsythias are coming into 
flower, and Crocuses, Snowdrops, and Chionodoxas 
are starring the borders and Alpine garden. This 
hastening of things generally means that time must 
be taken by the forelock; otherwise it will be im¬ 
possible to keep up with the work. 
The Grass is needing special care. Seldom, in¬ 
deed, has it looked so green at this season as it does 
now, and the mowing machine will soon have to be 
started going again. We do not advise starting to 
mow too early, however, for a little freedom, as it 
were, will do the grass good at this season, and will 
help to strengthen it, especially upon tennis courts, 
bowling greens, or cricket grounds, where it is 
necessary that the turf should be close and tough. 
Rolling and cutting play a most important part in 
keeping a lawn in good condition, but some attention 
should also be paid to the question of manuring. 
Old established lawns particularly benefit greatly by 
an occasional dressing. A light sprinkle of bone 
meal, and wood ashes will often work wonders. This 
should be worked in among the roots of the grass by 
means of a bush harrow, and a good rolling given 
immediately afterwards. The effects will become 
evident soon after the first shower. Soot also is an 
admirable top-dressing. Only a light dusting should 
be given, and that only in showery weather, but if 
this idea is followed out at intervals of about a fort¬ 
night a great deal of improvement will be registered. 
Planting Carnations. —It is a great mistake to 
keep border Carnations cooped up in small pots until 
late in the month, for the starving that they are thus 
called upon to undergo serves no good end. Accord¬ 
ingly, preparations must be set on foot for getting 
them out into their flowering quarters within the 
course of the next week. The ground, which should 
have been manured and deeply dug last autumn, may 
now be forked neatly over previous to planting. It 
is an excellent plan to plant in beds about 4 ft. wide 
with alleys between them. This admits of the 
necessary attentions being given throughout the 
season without trampling all over the ground. 
Place the rows a foot apart. Each bed will then 
contain five rows, while about a foot may also 
be allowed between the plants in the rows. In 
planting take care not to bury the plants too deeply, 
and follow up with a goo I watering, which should be 
repeated at intervals if the weather keep dry, so as 
to enable the plants to get a good hold of the soil 
speedily. 
Pruning Climbers —Push on the pruning and 
nailing of these with all possible speed as was advised 
in the last calendar. In the southern counties this 
work should all be finished by not later than the end 
of the second week in this month. 
Ivy. —In order to keep Ivy upon walls within 
proper bounds it must receive a trimming once a 
year. The present is a good time to do this, as the 
stumps will very soon be green again with young 
leaves. An ordinary reaping hook is the handiest 
tool to use for the purpose. Cut back fairly close to 
the old stems, and thus get rid of a lot of dust and 
rubbish—the accumulations of a twelvemonth. As 
a matter of justice to the men who have to do the 
job a quiet day should be chosen for, obvious 
reasons. 
Roses.— Like other things these are exceptionally 
forward, and their pruning must be seen to at once. 
In dealing with the wall trees do not lay in too much 
wood. First of all cut out all dead and weakly wood, 
then make a selection of the cleanest and best 
ripened growths to remain, cuttihg the rest clean out. 
The tops of the shoots left must also be shortened a 
little, inasmuch as they are always weak and badly 
ripened. Lateral growths should be spurred close 
back. 
Hybrid Perpetual Standards. —The idea here 
is to obtain a shapely and evenly balanced head, and 
to this end all growths that cross each other must be 
cut out, also any that are observed to be too 
gross, as the latter if left would monopolise much of 
the strength of the tree, and tend to produce a one¬ 
sided and irregular head. In shortening cut back to 
within from four to eight eyes, according to the 
variety being dealt with, whether a vigorous or com¬ 
paratively weak grower. Young plants should be 
cut down to within about four eyes of the point at 
which the bud was inserted. 
Tea Varieties.— These must be left until the last. 
Being of weaker growth they do not need severe 
pruning. A little thinning of the growths, and a 
slight shortening is usually all that they require.— 
A. S. G. 
Pot Vines. —While the berries are stoning but 
little advance will be apparent, but the tempera¬ 
tures must be kept steady until stoning is completed, 
and the second swelling begins. Then an increase of 
2 0 may be given in the night temperature, with a 
proportionate rise by day. 
Vines in Flower will need a dryer atmosphere 
than has been given hitherto, in order to aid the dis¬ 
persal of the pollen. A gentle tap may be given the 
rods sometime about the middle of the day. Some 
cultivators give a very high temperature at this 
point under the mistaken idea that it is necessary to 
insure the fertilization of the flowers. This is proved 
to be erroneous by the fact that Grapes on outside 
walls set their fruit readily enough at a lower 
temperature. The dry atmosphere is the important 
part of the programme. The temperature should not 
fall below 6o° Fahr. by night, however, as this is 
necessary to carry out forcing properly. 
Watering the Borders is becoming each day of 
more importance as the strain of fruit and foliage 
upon the Vines becomes greater. It would be im¬ 
possible to lay down a hard and fast rule with regard 
to the frequency of waterings. This is a matter 
which the cultivator must settle for himself. Borders 
are constructed so differently, both as to gross depth 
and amount of drainage given, that it follows as a 
matter of course that the exhaustion of the water 
will vary likewise. For fairly well drained borders 
containing vigorous Vines, one good soaking every 
three weeks is not a whit too much. If the border is 
very shallow more water will be required, and so on. 
The only thing upon which it is possible to 
dogmatise is that whenever water is applied it should 
be in sufficient quantities to soak the whole of the 
border. All water given must be at nearly the same 
temperature as the mean of the house, and none 
should be given colder than 6o°, for a lot of cold 
water at the roots at this time of the year means a 
decided check to the plants. 
Cherries. —As soon as the fruit is well set the 
syringe may be started to work in the mornings. A 
good washing should be given by its aid at first to 
clear off the old flowers. Attend to the stopping of 
the shoots before they have wasted the energy of the 
tree by growing too long, and keep a smart look out 
for the appearance of black fly, which usually 
comes upon the scene about this stage of growth. 
The temperature may stand at 50° by night, with a 
maximum rise of io° on bright days. Air should be 
given when the thermometer shows 55 0 
Later Houses, the occupants of which have been 
allowed to come along gradually, and of their own 
accord, are just now in flower. Here the work of 
pollenising must be carried on regularly each day. 
As with the Peaches, a rabbit’s tail fastened on the 
end of a light bamboo is the handiest tool. The 
operation should be commenced about 12 noon, as at 
that time the pollen is most likely to be dry, and 
easily dispersed. Touch the flowers lightly, as 
bruising the reproductory organs is the surest way to 
cause the flowers to fall without fulfilling their 
mission. Do not coddle in any way. Air freely, but 
avoid draughts. 
Melons.—A succession house must be planted 
without delay. This should be prepared in the same 
way as was the first, viz , by a thorough cleansing. 
The great point is to have the house ready for the 
plants before they get pot bound. Once the roots 
have reached the sides of the pots they should not be 
allowed to stay in those pots any longer. 
Early House.— The late bright weather has been 
all in the favour of the plants, and they are pushing 
away strongly. The setting of the female flowers 
must receive the closest attention. If earliness is 
the principal object the first female flowers that 
open should be pollenised. For exhibition purposes 
one or two fruits to a plant are quite enough, but 
fruits of such a size are of comparatively little value 
for the ordinary establishment. A fair number of 
medium-sized fruits is usually the mark to be aimed 
at. The temperature must not be suffered to decline 
below 6 5 q by night, with a 10? rise by day. Air 
must be given cautiously, and for the next two or 
three weeks the house should be shut up at 2 p m., 
when a good syringing should be given. The use ot 
the syringe not only keeps the atmosphere moist and 
kindly, but it tends to keep down insect pests, 
particularly red spider, which prey upon the Melon. 
—A. S. G. 
