November 4, 1899* 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
1S1 
readers have had the benefit of his experience, un- 
wittingly it may be. Furthermore, he has been 
connected with hospital work for twenty years, 
with the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution 
for eighteen years, and with the Royal Gardeners’ 
Orphan Fund from its commencement. He is still 
in the prime of life, and we wish him many more 
years of busy, useful and enjoyable life. 
DIVERSITY IN TASTE. 
There is no other calling or profession, I believe, 
which affords the same scope as that followed by the 
reputed father of our race. I have been led in part 
to this line of thought from the inspection of what at 
first sight appeared to be baskets made from string 
in the forms of men, baboons, and tortoises, with a 
Davallia growing upon them. Closer inspection 
showed that what looked so much like cord was 
really the rhizomes of the Fern tied and trained in 
the various forms desired. One, by-the-bye, was 
made to represent a man beating a drum. These 
are samples of the ingenuity of the almond-eyed 
Japanese—has the shape of the human eye any influ¬ 
ence upon individual and national laste ?—and are in 
keeping with their dwarfed Confers and othes trees. 
Whatever else may be thought of these abortions 
they are certainly extraordinary samples of patience 
and ingenuity. These have come a long way from 
home ; but here, anyone with an observant eye, will 
see much in confirmation of the leading of this short 
paragraph. 
In some places there are most intricate designs 
with Box edgings for carpet bedding; others go in 
for rockwork, from the tiny attempts of the cottager 
and artizan to the splendid artificial rockeries in 
natural stone, covering acres of ground, and planted 
with an almost infinite variety of plants. In sub¬ 
urban districts the variety ot tastes and styles of 
gardening are almost endless, and an observant pro¬ 
fessional may often pick up a lesson of some value 
from among them. I was much struck once with a 
villa front laid out, as so many are,with the ordinary 
sweep round from the two side gates but planted with 
Bamboos, strong plants, 8 ft. to 12 ft. high, evidently 
well cared for. The effect was unique, giving the 
place in summer quite a tropical aspect. On the one 
side was a flaring bedding arrangement, and the 
other mainly evergreen trees and shrubs. 
Many owners of gardens are ardent politicians; 
but I think that a political garden is something rather 
seldom met with. At least, I have ODly been privi¬ 
leged to see over one, nothing being attempted to 
make it either beautiful or interesting apart from 
political associations. Here were trees and shrubs 
planted by many of the leading men in the world of 
politics during the present reign, principally on the 
liberal side with a few of other nationalities, notably 
Prince Bismarck. A garden of this kind would attract 
but little attention apart from what may be called its 
in memoriam aspect. In itself it is a most informal 
affair, and quite the opposite to the squarely clipped 
Yew hedges, with their accompaniments of peacocks, 
crosses, chairs, foxes, spiral staircase and serpents, 
once very much in vogue, and, it would seem to 
some extent, coming into use again. 
Possibly the best thing in this way we know of is 
an avenue of Irish Yews, some twelve or more feet 
in height, fashioned very much like an acorn, the 
dimensions of the cup and the acorn being pretty 
well balanced. The cups are clipped quite level on 
the top and are some 10 in. or so in width around the 
supposed acorn. The whole thing is very well done • 
and to those wishing to go into this style of things 
it is a good object lesson. 
Again, I know a very retired spot where the 
worthy owner cares neither for effect nor keeping of 
his garden, but delights to see his choice plants 
growing in a state of nature. Examples, and choice 
ones too, from other temperate climes, surrounded 
with the natural flora of the district in which he 
resides, are growing at their own sweet will. It would 
be easy to extend this short sketch in various 
directions, but at present I forbear.— W.B.G. 
— ■»& ».. — 
TIE PLANT HOUSES. 
The Stove. 
At this season of the year perhaps more so than 
any other, cleanliness should everywhere be striven 
for. Flower pots must be washed with hot water, 
all the stages should be refurnished, the gravel 
rolled about and washed, perhaps watered with 
lime-water to kill earth worms and slugs, and all 
decaying stuff no matter how insignificant in bulk, 
even if only a pinnae of a Fern frond, should be 
cleanly cut or snapped off. 
No syringing is really needed, although plenty of 
successful growers still like to freshen the plants by 
a slight overhead dewing after breakfast. But the 
weather all over the country, from accounts", is dull 
and has a "drippy," shivery atmosphere. Under 
such conditions it is better to have the evaporating 
troughs daily replenished and to rely upon atmos¬ 
pheric moisture arising from them, of course 
also from the damping down. By giving the 
paths a thorough wetting at banking-up time, 
there is a sufficiency of humidity sustained 
throughout the night. The damping-down may 
again be the first work of the morning provided the 
temperatures are high enough. Nothing is more 
foolish than to rob the air of its warmth when the 
heat is already below par. 
Stoking.— We have not had any very cold nights 
or days yet. About a fortnight ago when the 
weather was frosty and strong winds prevailed, the 
matter of keeping up the standard of warmth 
necessitated diligent and careful stoking. It will be 
found that the blinds which in some cases, as on the 
Phalaenopsis house, Fern-houses, and probably one 
or two others, still remain in case of need, that if 
these be lowered during the night the heat is greatly 
conserved and much hard firing is done away with. 
A few frame mats, bast mats rather, placed over the 
windward side of heated pits, is of very great assist¬ 
ance. Clear fires even though small, need it be said, 
have a greater heat giving power than an intense 
body of fire which does not burn so speedily. 
Full draught may be allowed for an hour or more 
to start with in the morning, no fresh fuel being 
added to the furnace until the live fire has gathered 
itself together after the clearing and raking out. All 
the body of fire should be raked to the front part of 
the live-plate and the bottom doors opened while the 
top or furnace doors are closed. Very few coals or 
shovelfuls of coke are required until a thorough 
circulation has been set up. When the pipes near 
the boiler have become intensely warm, the dampers 
may be lowered to a degree which will keep the fire 
going evenly, but not fiercely. A glowing heat is 
wanted not a smelting heat. The one is a steady 
burning, the other fierce and intense. Once the day 
temperature has been nearly gained, the fires 
may be calmed down considerably. I say nearly 
gained, because when the temperature is within a 
degree or two of what it is to be maintained at, the 
potentiality already in the pipes will lift the heat to 
the level. Of course all depends on the weather and 
the probability of changes. Given normal conditions, 
an even flow may be kept up till about four in the 
afternoon. It is then advisable to slightly push the 
fires so that the temperatures may be safe for banking 
up at ten o’clock or so, at which time a quantity of 
fuel and banking of ashes will be placed in the 
furnace and the dampers left well down. Where 
there are two boilers one may be left to burn freely 
while the other is checked. 
Adiantum farleyense. —Every gardener grows 
this, the most lovely of all Maidenhair Ferns, but 
with varied successes. One thing specially needful 
to its welfare, is that the temperature of its 
surroundings be steady and rather warm. A cosy, 
still air must be maintained. For this reason some 
gardeners grow the plants in cases where the proper 
supply of moisture, steady, warm air, and other 
necessary conditions are maintained accurately. A 
side stage with a bottom of cinders which helps to 
retain moisture must be provided. No moisture 
should be if possible dewed upon the fronds, and all 
decaying fronds or parts of them should scrupuously 
be removed. A. farleyense enjoys a fair abundance 
of light, indeed more than it usually gets. The full 
softness of its fronds and the beautiful pink is only 
brought out to the full by care in the shading. 
The roots probably more than anything else should 
be well preserved. Warmth they assuredly like, as 
the free, healthy growth of young plants when 
plunged in the propagating pit amply proves. The 
water used should be, at all times, chilled and no 
half dribbles given, but a full supply when it 
becomes needful. The centre of the plant should 
be somewhat open, for the dense plume-like fronds 
grow thickly. Very neat stakes are necessary to 
support the fronds. A good potting compost will be 
found in equal parts of turfy peat and loam, the 
loam to be somewhat solid, one part of Oak or 
Beech leaf mould, a fair quantity of charcoal, rough 
bone meal, and silver sand. Increase is by division 
of strong plants which after being divided and potted 
up may be placed in a propagating case for some 
considerable time. 
Climbing plants upon trellises such as Stephan- 
otis floribunda, Hoya carnosa and Allamandas may 
be pruned at this time The two former are almost 
sure to be in need of a wash, after which the young 
shoots may be replaced in position. Any other 
foliage plants may be looked over during the dull 
days. 
The Greenhouse. 
Some pot Tea Roses are still in bloom. These 
when past, which will not be long now, may be 
shifted to any cold frame for the winter. Cinerarias, 
Calceolarias, zonal Pelargoniums, Cyclamen, 
Solanums, Eupatoriums, and other plants brought 
from the frames and pits are either coming into 
flower or already they are blooming. The Pelar¬ 
goniums and Cyclamen pay for having a small 
house devoted to themselves. The other plants 
mentioned may be used as they develop for the 
decoration of the conservatory. With Cinerarias on 
shelves in the cool greenhouse some feeding but not 
a great deal, will at this time be a help. Plants in 
small pots generally throw the best heads of bloom. 
Pits and Frames. 
Growth being so slow at present and for the next 
while to come there is little or nothing to do in the 
frame ground. Mats for covering up should have 
been brought or got out ready far cold weather. 
Frames wherein are cuttings of bedding stuff may 
on all dry days be left well open.—/. H. D. 
TH8 Omnia Grower’s Galeijtiar. 
Cool House. 
Oncidium Forbesii.— This is a lovely cool house 
Orchid, producing good strong spikes on comparat¬ 
ively small plants. A few dozen grown in small 
pans and suspended near the glass over the 
Odontoglossums will almost to a certainty grow and 
produce spikes, the first or second growth after 
importing. The compost should be rough fibrous 
peat and moss in about equal parts with good 
drainage. 
They are very little trouble grown in this way for 
the houses, of necessity, being kept rather moist it 
just suits them, and all they require is a wetting 
with the syringe when damping down, and perhaps 
a dipping once a week according to the weather. 
Oncidium sarcodes too is another which does 
well under similar treatment, and one that reaches 
the flowering stage in a very short time. It pro¬ 
duces its yellow and chestnut brown flowers during 
the early spring months and forms a fine contrast to 
the white forms of Odontoglossum crispum. When 
grown cool there is an absence of white scale which 
infests them when grown in heat. Then we have 
the pretty primrose yellow O. concolor which also 
does well in this division. It is not much good as a 
cut flower and on that account it does not fetch 
much in flower ; but for making a show at home it 
has few equals. 
Cattleya House. —It has been a grand season for 
Laelia anceps alba, for quite small plants have pro¬ 
duced strong spikes. Still there are others with large 
pseudobulbs that have again failed. Just about this 
time the newly made up growths begin to send out 
large fleshy roots, and growers are fully alive to 
the advantages derived from a little fresh material 
that may be afforded them at this season, and act 
accordingly. Amateurs would therefore do well to 
make a note of this and do likewise. It may not be 
advisable at this time of the year to pull the plants 
out of the pans or baskets but we remove as much 
as we can of the old material and thus get rid of 
the woodlice. Top dressing I detest and only whea 
the moss is dead and the peat still good do we 
practice it. 
L. anceps amesiana. —This is almost if not quite 
as shy in flowering as the white forms. We have 
a few spikes on plants that have been very much 
exposed and that have not been over watered, 
Shade and too much water are death to all varieties 
of Laelia anceps.— S.C. 
