June 2, 1900. 
681 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
ium crystallinum. Cocos plumosa is also represen¬ 
ted by beautiful specimens. 
Cucumbers in a separate house were on the point 
of yielding a crop in early April. Beneath them a 
miscellaneous collection of Pteris and Maidenhair 
Ferns are grown. Some finely balanced samples of 
the Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falcatum) were also 
noticed. In the same house were plants of Passi- 
flora edulis, which had ctme from Ceylon. These 
in their due season may be expected to fruit. 
The Vinery with Black Hamburghs promised 
exceedingly well. The Peach house was devoted to 
two varieties, Royal George, and Stirling Castle, 
both being very reliable croppers. On the back 
wall of the Peach house there are plants of the 
famous American Blackberry, Wilson, Junr. Plums 
are also successfully grown and cropped. 
Orchids are rather extensively cultivated, filling as 
they do a large span-roofed house with two com¬ 
partments. —■ 
Dendrobiums were in full flower at the time of my 
visit. Such fine varieties as D. jamesianum, D. 
nobile, D. brymerianum, D. atroviolaceum, D. 
Pierardii, D. fimbriatum oculatum, and others. 
Ada aurantiaca was well grown and freely flowered. 
Phaius cormanianus aureus, cross between P. Walli- 
chii and P. tuberculosus, both of which latter were 
also in bloom. 
Cypripedium grande, C. chamberlalnianum, C. 
Sedeni, and C. villosum were all bearing a quantity 
of blooms, and looked In the pink of good health. 
Cattleyas do not last quite so long in flower as Mr. 
Hogg would like. They seem to be affected more 
than any of the other Orchids by the state of the 
atmosphere, and soon go off. Coelogynes are well 
grown, and, as might be expected in a place where 
white blooms, especially in early spring, are 
welcomed, they are grown in quantity. Pleiones are 
creditably displayed. Odontoglossum Hallii, O. 
cirrhosum, O. concolor, O. altissimum, &c., were all 
In flower during the first week in April, so that the 
house was certainly rich and gay. It is rather a 
pity that the presence of gasworks militates against 
the highest success with the Cattleyas and other 
fine genera. Among the Dendrobiums I should 
have mentioned D. crassinode, D. chrysotoxum, and 
D. crepidatum. 
Heaths are so well liked as to have a special 
house devoted to them. They are grown in the 
good old fashioned way. No care is begrudged for 
their perfect development as specimens. Boronias 
and Ericas almost exclusively fill the house. Azalea 
balsamiflora was seen in pretty batches. This is a 
capital species for spring forcing. 
Roses are specially well treated, and occupy a 
good sized house all by themselves. They are 
mostly in pots. Indian Azaleas were seen as 
massive and well flowered specimens. 
Very few flowering plants were to be seen out of 
doors. Some alterations and repairs were being 
planned in the flower garden. The bouse is 
surrounded by broad terraces, at the foot of which, 
on the southern side, the formal flower garden is 
laid out. It is of moderate extent, but will be very 
effective when at its best in summer. To the west 
side of the house, and surrounding the indoor rock¬ 
ery building, mentioned at the beginning of this 
article, there is a well arranged and finely planned 
hardy rock garden. Trees and shrubs are extensively 
planted both for shelter and as subjects for furnish¬ 
ing, and the collection of alpine plants is varied. 
The grounds everywhere are pleasing. On the 
estate there are some beautiful workmen’s homes, 
and their surroundings are bright and clean. Mr. 
Hogg has been many years at Woodside, and it is 
our wish to hear of his continuance there for many 
a day to come.— J H. 
- - t «~ - 
tub Oicfiid Growers’ Calendar. 
Propagation of Odontoglossums,— This is a sub. 
ject that has been engaging our attention for some 
time, being convinced that to increase the stock of 
fine things Nature must be assisted in some way. 
We have proved that under cultivation the old 
pseudo-bulbs after the plants have become established 
are of no use, in fact, they are only a drag on the 
plants. But how can we best make use of these old 
pseudo-bulbs ? That's the rub. How long will they 
retain the vitality necessary to make a new growth ? 
It seems a great pity to allow them to remain on the 
plants, and see them ultimately decay, if we can by 
some simple method make them push new growths. 
The thing that suggests itself to us, and one we 
have tried with partial success, is to take them off 
after about the third seasori, when there will be 
enough English plant to take care of itself. Keep 
these old bulbs cool and dry for a time, then put 
them into strong heat. This sudden introduction to 
conditions natural to them in their native habitats, if 
there is an eye left, will have the desired effect. 
After once started they may be returned to the cool 
house, and grown on with the general stock. There 
is another way of propagation which we effect, and 
that is taking off the new growth when it has 
attained a length of about 6 in., and when roots are 
pushing freely from the base. If these are potted up 
into small pots and suspended near the glass and 
treated similar to seedlings they will in about two 
years make good plants. We like to suspend them 
as they are not so liable to damp off as when placed 
on the stage. The old plants will break again from 
the opposite side of the pseudo-bulb from which this 
new growth has been taken. 
Of course this cutting up system can only be 
practised with any or much hope of success where 
plants do well,but when such is the case we think it is 
our duty to increase the stock of really fine varieties, 
for it is nice to be able to exchange a plant or to have 
something to fall back upon in case of accident, 
which will happen no matter how careful you are. 
Work in the Houses.— Keep the syringe going 
freely amongst the pots to induce the plants to make 
the progress necessary during the short season which 
they have to make up their growths. With cool 
stuff we syringe right and left overhead, This is 
just what they eDjoy at this time of the year.— S. C- 
----- X- - 
Kitctien Garden Calendar. 
Asparagus. —So far the weather has been too cold 
for this to grow very rapidly, but to induce the 
plants to push up growths more robustly give a 
dressing of sulphate of potash at the rate of about 
two pounds to the square rod. Should the weather 
keep dry this ought to be washed in with a gentle 
watering, but do not drench the ground as the soil 
is already too cold to allow of rapid growth. Guano 
is a capital ma nure as is also kainit, and common 
salt. Beds that were planted last month should 
receive a gentle watering where the soil is dry, but 
no more ought to be given than will promote a 
healthy growth, as this has a tendency to lower the 
temperature of the soil and therefore check growth 
unless the weather be hot. 
Peas. —If a sowing is made now of such sterling 
varieties as Autocrat, Late t^ueen, Michaelmas, 
Ne plus Ultra, Veitch's Main Crop, Invincible, and 
the like, unless the season be very unfavourable, 
these will give a supply during the latter part of 
August and early in September. On light dry soils, 
and in districts where the rainfall is slight it is well 
to specially prepare the ground before sowing. It 
is useless to take out a trench as some recommend, 
unless this is made at least two spits wide, as the 
roots are too much confined to permit of them 
rambling in search of food. If taken out i8ln. wide 
and about the same in depth, and a foot of well 
decayed manure be put into the bottom this will 
hold sufficient moisture to keep the plants growing. 
After covering with soil make the same firm before 
sowing the seed, then give a liberal watering. Peas 
that are in bloom should have a liberal mulching ; 
this will save the use of the water pet later on. It 
is a great mistake to have midseason and late 
varieties too thick in the rows, as this prevents the 
plants from growing sturdy, and so renders them 
more liable to the attack of Aphis, which in some 
places is very troublesome in hot dry weather. 
Stake the plants before they get too tall or they will 
fall over, when the lower foliage will turn yellow. 
To produce extra fine pods for exhibition pinch out 
the points of the plants when sufficient flowers are 
set. 
Winter Crops. —We have now arrived at the all 
important season when these should be planted, 
therefore the first favourable opportunity should be 
taken to get the plants into their permanent 
quarters. Brussels Sprouts should be the first to 
command attention as these always take a consider¬ 
able time to develop, and unless planted early they 
do not grow stout enough to produce a full crop. 
Borecole and early Broccoli should also be got out, 
while Savoys and later Broccolis should folio v 
before the plants get too far advanced. In mos r . 
gardens there is always a difficulty in fieding room 
for these things so early in the season, and many 
make a practice of putting them between thePotatos, 
but unless the latter are planted a considerable 
distance apart, and only dwarf kinds are grown, 
there is net much gained by so doing. Better put 
the plants double the thickness in the rows at the 
time of planting out, then remove every other an! 
transplant as soon as the early Potatos or Peas are 
lifted. 
Turnips have made but slow progress this season, 
the weather being so cold, the harsh winds cutting 
them up terribly. To secure a supply of tender 
crisp roots sow on rich well prepared ground, and 
give a liberal supply of water whenever the soil 
appears dry. It is not advisable to sow many at a 
time as the roots soon become tough and stringy, 
Snowball, Early Stone, and some of the strap-leaved 
varieties are best for these early sowings. Broad 
Beans : Fora late supply sow theLongpod varieties 
as these do not suffer so much from the attack of 
Aphis as the Windsors, Carter's MasLrpit ce, Green 
Giant, and those of that class being preferable. 
Runner Beans may now be sown with safety any 
where in the southern portion of the kingdom with¬ 
out fear of beiDg caught by the frost. Plants 
already above ground should be protected at night 
in low-lying situations, as such are more subject to 
late frosts than higher ground ; it was about this time 
last yeor that so much damage was done to the 
early vegetable and fruit crops. Pay particular 
attention to the watering of small seeds, for unless 
the soil is kept constancy moist they will not germin¬ 
ate freely. Salads will now be in great demand. 
Lettuce should be tied up to promote blanchiog, and 
small seed be sown to keep up a regular supply.— 
F. W.J. 
©feammts ftpjm ffii- Durlb 
of ®cicnc^. 
The subjects mentioned hereunder were brought 
up to the Scientific Committee meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society on the Sth inst. 
Peach trees diseased.—The following report 
was received from Dr. W. G. Smith upon the spec¬ 
imens received on March 26th. He also observes 
that he is continuing the cultures of the fungi, as at 
present he is uncertain between “ Fruit rot ” (Monilia 
fructigena) and a form of Cladosporium. 11 The 
cause of discolouration of the bark of twigs is ev - 
dently a fuDgus which can be found in these parts 
The absence of good examples of reproductive organs 
renders identification uncertain. In the twigs the 
fungus has passed the winter, and made its way into 
the leaf buds and flowers, causing the damage therr 
With a fungus such as this the course of treatment 
is summer spraying. Peach foliage is delicate and 
the spraying solution must be dilute ; for example, 
Bordeaux mixture made with not more than 2 lbs. 
copper sulphate and 2 lbs. quicklime in each fifty 
gallons of water. The foliage should be thoroughly 
wetted with a fine spray, preferably that given with 
a sprayer like those supplied by Strawson and other 
firms. In winter pruning should be carried out, so 
as to remove all discoloured twigs. This treatment 
will probably require to be carried out for several 
seasons. The fungus might be identified If speci¬ 
mens of foliage were sent during the summer." 
Vine leaves, diseased.—Wih reference to 
those sent to a previous meeting,Dr.Masters observed 
that no mites could be detected by Mr, Michael, 
who carefully examined them ; but that his opinion 
was confirmed that the diseased condition was most 
probably due to a young condition of Gloeosporium. 
Larix occidentalis —Dr. Masters showed young 
cones of this species from Oregon, characterised by 
having green bracts, the European Larch having 
them of a red colour. It is described as the finest 
timber tree of N.W. America. It was discovered by 
Douglas, who mistook it for the European species. 
Commercial Fertilisers.—In Gardening (American) 
we are told that there were 2,268 brands of com¬ 
mercial fertilisers registered under the law of New 
York in 1899. In Britain we could total up a few 
hundreds 1 
