June 23, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
679 
The soil in the borders and pots was now ex¬ 
amined, and not a root had entered the new soil, and 
all small roots which were in contact with it were 
found to be dead. It was then decided to renew the 
compost, light loam, peat, and sand being their next 
"larder." The same process as related above, pot¬ 
ting and tubbing, were gone through again, but with 
no better result. They went from bad to worse, and 
when I took charge in the month of March they 
were in this deplorable condition. Having heard 
their history, as briefly given above, I made an ex¬ 
amination of the loam, and proceeded to the spot 
where it was obtained, finding just what I had ex¬ 
pected. With my previous experiences with these 
plants I soon defined the cause of failure, and at 
once set about to rectify the mistake. On enquiring 
I found there were some mountainous formations of 
light coloured sandstone some twenty miles distant. 
After exploring this high ground I came upon soil 
suitable for my purpose, namely, a light loam full of 
fibre. The loam between the hills was clothed with 
very fine moss, having been for generations eaten off 
by sheep and cattle. I eventually obtained permis¬ 
sion to obtain what I wanted, and proceeded at once 
to cut it off in turves, about i$ in. to 2 in. in thick¬ 
ness. As soon as I got it home it was at once all 
chopped and torn to pieces, green as it was, and 
nothing whatever taken out or added. As potting 
and tubbing had to be gone through again many of 
those plants which had been previously planted in 
the borders were also put into pots and tubs, first 
reducing the old balls, cutting away all dead roots 
before repotting, and allowing about i in. of space 
for new soil, which was made firm by the use of the 
potting stick. The larger plants had the soil cleared 
from them, the balls seen to, and about 6 in. of soil 
rammed tightly around them, retaining walls being 
put around to keep the old and new soil apart. 
Every plant went through one of these two pro¬ 
cesses. After all had been completed they were 
dewed morning and evening, and in due time as the 
season advanced numerous buds began to show from 
their lower stems, where the leaves had dropped off, 
and even from the very old wood. Their develop¬ 
ment was very slow, but anxiously watched. Slowly 
and surely they were moving aright, and before the 
summer was over success was seen to be assured. 
Although no wood growth had been made, appar¬ 
ently every bud made a pair of small bluish green, 
healthy looking leaves, with a prominent wood 
bud in the centre. The plants at this stage had a 
peculiar and interesting appearance,—old wood 
studded with pairs of healthy, shell-like leaves, and 
when the roots were examined the pots were found 
to be filled with strong white roots, and as autumn 
and winter approached, these plants were watched 
with no ordinary care, for at this season temporary 
injury is often done. 
The following spring, when growth commenced, 
they made such growth as I had never before or 
have never since seen ;—shoots a foot and more long, 
with large dark green leaves, and wood of extra¬ 
ordinary thickness, which gave the greatest satis¬ 
faction to all concerned. 
The result was, of course, a profusion of fine 
blooms. These plants never gave any more trouble, 
only further root space in the same soil as needed. 
My whole success was in the selection of the loam; 
that which the plants were first put in afier being 
purchased, came off a limestone formation, not at all 
chemically suited for these plants. I have often 
complained in the horticultural papers the indis¬ 
criminate way in which loam and peat is recom¬ 
mended by correspondents. If the former is strongly 
impregnated with lime (which is so often the case), 
the mixture makes one of the worst composts for 
most plants. As a rule peat ought never to be 
mixed with such loams. The loam here which I 
have to handle is from the sandstone formation. A 
mixture of peat with it makes an excellent com¬ 
post for some things. Perhaps twenty miles distant, 
it might be poison to some plants. I believe Camel¬ 
lias can be well grown in loam from the old red 
sandstone formation. In one establishment I was 
once in, nothing whatever but peat and sand were 
used, and the plants did admirably in it. Here, at 
Nostell, near Wakefield, Camellias thrive in the 
natural soil of the district. 
I previously said bud dropping was avoidable 
To prove it, I will ask any grower who is troubled 
with it, to turn a plant out of the pot and examine 
the roots. It will be found to have all the points 
of its roots dead, but unless carefully examined it 
might not be noticed. This, therefore, causes a lack 
of nutriment to the buds, and the plants are not 
able to retain them and bring them to perfection- 
This injury to the roots is caused in various ways. 
Unsuitable soil may be one; bad water another; 
and over or under watering may be a source of 
injury. Manure water often is, and so are heavy 
chemical dressings. The young roots of Camellias 
are very susceptible to injury, and require great 
care to keep them healthy ; therefore I say keep the 
roots healthy, it will then be found that bud drop¬ 
ping will give no more trouble, but instead, the 
buds will have to be attended to in thinning, if fine 
blooms are required. 
In many localities these plants thrive and flower 
freely out of doors. They are much hardier than 
the common Laurel, Bays, or Laurustinus. I have 
seen the former killed, while the Camellia has 
escaped injury. Not ten miles from here there are 
to be seen several plants, trained to a wall, or rather 
grown against it, which stood, uninjured, the severe 
winters of a few years ago. Anyone having plants 
which they are inclined to destroy or to dispose of 
for a mere trifle, I would say. if the ground is 
suitable, plant them out in summer. In sheltered 
positions they will not be disappointed with the 
result.— J. Easter, Nostell Priory Gardens. 
.———- 
Kitctien Garden Calendar. 
Most, if not ail, of the frames used for early vege¬ 
tables will now have been cleared of their crops. 
That every available space may be utilised to the best 
advantage, and as many of the tender kinds are 
greatly benefited by the aid of glass in the autumn, 
it may be advisable to plant such crops where pro¬ 
tection can be afforded them. Take for example 
Capsicums and Chilies. In cold districts frost often 
comes before the fruit is ripe, causing the greater 
portion to suffer. There is also the late sowing of 
French Beans to be considered. The lights could 
also be used for growing Tomatos and the like. This 
is a good time to have any that need painting or re¬ 
pairing looked over that they may again be ready for 
use when required. 
Asparagus. —Cutting should now be discontinued, 
and growth encouraged as much as possible by a 
liberal dressing of artificial manure, and where the 
rain is slight a thorough soaking also. As this is one 
of the most usefu spring vegetables we have, every 
effort should be made to grow it well, and have as 
large a supply as possible from a limited space. 
Where roots are planted 2 or 3 ft. apart there is too 
much ground wasted,and small gardens cannot afford 
to be so extravagant. The aim should be to obtain 
as much useful produce off a small portion of land 
as is possible, not a few monstrosities such as we 
sometimes see at exhibitions, most of which is wasted. 
If the plants are induced now to make robust stems, 
strong crowns will be formed at their base for next 
year’s supply. Potash manures of any kind are 
beneficial, and these should be applied at intervals 
of about a week or ten days during the month of 
July, by which time growth will be sufficiently 
advanced to need no further help. 
Runner Beans.— Strict attention should now be 
paid to this crop, for under good cultivation none 
pay better; but if neglected, growth soon becomes 
stagnant. We frequently see fine rows of Runner 
Beans in cottage gardens, and this is solely owing to 
the constant attention they receive in the way of 
watering. It is not always possible in private estab¬ 
lishments to give attention to everything at the same 
time, but an extra effort should be made to look after 
these. The last sowing should now be made 
in a sheltered position, that is to say, in one not 
exposed to the south-west, as in many places 
more is to be feared from this than from frost. We 
have sometimes had every leaf stripped off the 
plants by a strong gale in August, leaving the young 
tender pods so bruised as to be of no use whatever. 
While the runner varieties are plentiful, Dwarfs are 
not so much in request, but it is well to make small 
sowings of these once a fortnight till the end of July, 
as they are more readily protected. 
Late Peas. —In sheltered districts these are a 
valuable crop. I once remember seeing in the north of 
Derbyshire as fine a row of Ne Pius Ultra in October 
as one could wish to see in July, the season just 
suiting them, but it is not in all seasons that such 
fine results could be obtained. However, it is always 
well to make a sowing or two early in July, and if the 
autumn should prove favourable, the crops will be 
very acceptable. Tall Peas do not find so much 
favour in exposed districts owing to their liability 
to be blown about by the wind. Late QueeD, Auto¬ 
crat, Invincible, Veitch’s Main Crop and Michaelmas 
are all of medium height and very prolific. 
Salads of all kinds are now much in demand, for 
this reason no pains should be spared to keep up a 
constant supply. Lettuce both of the Cos and Cab¬ 
bage varieties should be sown at intervals of about a 
fortnight. The plants should be planted out as soon 
as large enough to handle, on rich moist soil. Water 
must on no account be grudgingly given them, for 
the quicker they are brought to perfection the more 
tender will they be. Radishes may also be had in 
the finest condition by frequent small sowings, while 
Mustard and Cress ought to occupy a place on a 
north border and be protected by shading to keep it 
tender. 
Mulching at this time of the year ought not to be 
neglected, not only does this save much time in 
watering but if suitable material be employed the 
ground is greatly benefited thereby. There are 
few private gardens that have an adequate supply 
of stable litter for all purposes, for what with making 
hot-beds, mulching Strawberries and the like, very 
little remains for the vegetable crops ; and where the 
garden is situated some distance from a railway 
station there is much difficulty in getting suitable 
material by rail. Where mulching can be regularly 
carried out, far finer crops at less expense are 
obtained, than where the cultivator has to depend so 
much on the watering pot to keep plants growing.— 
F. W. J. 
- 
SOME WILD ORCHIDS. 
A ramble over upland pastures in the sweet May 
time is almost sure to reveal one or more species of 
these curious yet, withal, interesting plants. 
In many places the fields are now full of their 
quaint forms and extraordinary flowers, so much so 
that, occasionally, they give a distinct feature to the 
landscape and tint the fields with colour. 
Such a charming and refreshing experience was 
mine on the 27th ult., when my host called me early, 
and we were soon inhaling the purity of the night- 
washed air and brushing the dewdrops off the glit¬ 
tering grass. Over the elevated heath-land of 
Bucklebury Common we made our way, and were 
soon gazing od the purple, the gold, and the green 
which go to make up some of the characteristics of 
English pastural scenes. 
One field in particular was redolent of purple, this 
predominating colour being due to the richness and 
profusion of Orchis mascula, one of the commonest 
and handsomest of our Orchidaceous plants. Thus 
this meadow from afar was purple with delight and 
glowed with claret colour. A nearer inspection 
however, gave us other species, and enabled us to fill 
our vasculum with a dozen different forms. The 
time, the place, the glorious morn, and the floriferous 
surroundings all tended to increase our interest, and 
to produce a Dame Nature of the loveliest descrip¬ 
tion. Where everything is beautiful it is not possible 
to exaggerate, and so I trust that my readers will 
not be incredulous as to the amount of beauty a lover 
of Nature can perceive. After the purple Orchis, in 
quantity and variety, comes the green-winged mem¬ 
ber of this curious race (Orchis Morio). The flowers 
of this species are paler in hue and form a less dense 
spike than the purple one. 
Moreover, the sepals are distinctly veined with 
green, curve upwards and form a kind of helmet 
over the rest of the flower. Any orchidist examining 
these with the aid of a pocket lens is sure to exclaim 
Cypripedium venustum I 
The Spotted Orchis (O. maculata) also occurs in 
fair profusion. The spike—at that time—looked 
crowded and solid, the flowers being of a delicate lilac 
tint, spotted with darker colours ; the leaves also are 
purple spotted. We found a white variety. The 
Tway-blade (Listera ovata) was preparing to send 
up its yellow-green spikes. It is not, however, so 
striking a plant when in flower as those above men¬ 
tioned, although it is easily distinguished from all 
our native Orchids by its two broad, glossy-green, 
strongly-nerved leaves, which are often 6 in. long. 
C. B. G., Acton, W. 
