6 
7 HE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 10, 1903. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
Among the Orchids. 
General Remarks.—The work m the various divisions of our 
Orchid houses will be directed principally, at the present time, 
to cleaning the plants, pot washing, and cleansing the roof 
glass. In the neighbourhood of large towns and in smoky 
manufacturing districts the deposit of carbon substances 
during foggy and dull weather is very considerable, and as 
light at the present season is particularly desirable, it is 
therefore almost a necessity to wash down the outside of the 
glass roofs almost weekly. We find the best methods of re¬ 
moving these deposits is first to thoroughly damp the glass; 
we then bring into use brushes similar to those used in washing 
railway carriages. These are attached to long handles, and 
used from the bottom of the roof. Care must be taken to 
prevent the dirty water being forced up through the laps 
between the squares of glass, either from the brush or when 
rinsing after the glass has been washed. Not only does this 
leave a deposit on the foliage when it becomes diy that will 
necessitate sponging to remove, but where the water happens 
to fall into the centres of the newly-developing growth it 
sometimes causes them to decay and rot away, owing to the 
water having no means of draining away. 
Sphagnum Moss.—It is advisable to take advantage of the 
open and mild weather to lay in a good supply of Sphagnum 
Moss. If procured and laid out of doors in some sheltered 
position it keeps fresh for several months, and it is to hand 
ready for use when required. It is a difficult matter to procure 
good Sphagnum in hard frosty weather, and as there are many 
subjects in flower and about to expand that will need potting 
requirements attending to as soon as the flowering season is 
over, it is well to have a good supply to hand. 
Peat should also be picked and got ready for use. Leaf soil 
that lias been lying out of doors should be sifted carefully 
and laid out to dry; if this is done, many of the small worms 
will either die or detach themselves from among the soil, and 
will thus rid the grower of a nuisance after potting. 
Watering.—Where heavy rains or dissolving snow water 
has found its way into the rain-water tanks, it will be found, if 
a thermometer is placed in the water, that the latter will be 
considerably colder than the normal conditions of the house. 
Care must therefore be taken to bring the water up to its 
normal temperature by adding sufficient hot water from the 
furnace. There is nothing more detrimental to the roots and 
developing growth than bringing them into contact with cold 
water. 
Cattleyas.—The early flowering varieties of C. Trianaei and 
C. percivaliana will now be developing their Rower-buds. It 
is necessary that these should have every encouragement that 
will be likely to enable them to expand their flowers to the 
l>est advantage. The plants should be placed in a position 
where they may obtain the maximum amount of light procur¬ 
able at this season of the year. The plants should also be 
placed under such conditions that there may be as little fluctua¬ 
tion as possible in the temperature of the house. I always 
prefer to place plants that are developing their flower-buds at 
the warmest end of the house, where they may be suspended 
from the roof. 
Cypripediums.—The winter flowering Cypripediums—that is 
to say, those which have recently passed out of flower—will 
now commence to emit new roots. Any repotting requirements 
that may be necessary should be attended to without delay. I 
have always advocated a liberal amount of pot room for the 
Eastern section of Cypripediums. Being strong-rooting sub¬ 
jects, they soon fill their pots with roots and become pot-bound ; 
and as they are also gross feeders, they are very liable to 
become dry in hot weather ; and if such is the case, the effect 
soon becomes apparent by diminished vigour of the newly- 
developing growth, and in a weaker condition the plants rarely 
produce a satisfactory return when the flowering season is 
reached. 
The potting compost also must be such as> will suit the par¬ 
ticular locality ; loam should never be used where the situation 
is in the immediate neighbourhood of large towns and smoky 
districts, the winter conditions being such that it is impossible 
to induce the plants to dry after watering, within a reasonable 
time, where a heavy soil is used. H. J. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
feuccessful kitchen gardening to a very large extent depends 
on the way in which the ground is treated during wrote- and 
spring, consequently, it may be well to bring the importance of 
this piominently before any who wish to attain the best results 
as briefly as possible. 
Soils and conditions differ so greatly that one must make 
the best of what lie has to deal with ; but let it be thoroughly 
undei stood that it is not always those who are favoured with 
the best opportunities that prove to be the most successful, 
but the man who makes up his mind to do his best and over¬ 
come difficulties, whatever they may be. 
Beep and thorough cultivation of the soil is most essential, 
no matter what its nature is. Generally, a kitchen garden^ 
when the site has once been decided on, will in all probability 
be kept as such for many years, and the chief object should 
be to obtain as speedily as possible a deeply worked root run, 
and this can only be done by taking extreme measures. The 
ground should be well drained and deeply trenched, the subsoil 
being brought to the surface each time the work is performed 
and by adding suitable ingredients it is surprising in what a 
short time the object in view can be accomplished. I may differ 
1 know I do, from many as regards this; nevertheless, I ani 
more fully convinced each year that this is the course to 
pursue. Heavy soils are, in my opinion, best trenched in early 
spring, February and March when possible, for when done in 
early autumn the heavy rains and snow will tend to make the 
surface become pasty. On the contrary, that of a lighter 
month 6 Sh ° UW be aCC ° mplished ^ the end of the present 
Rotation of crops is of far more importance than manv 
suppose, and a rough plan of the kitchen garden should be 
made each autumn and marked out, so that each plot can be 
treated accordingly There is no crop which tends to improve 
the ground like Celery, owing to the necessity of deeply work¬ 
ing it, and the exposure of much of the soil after earthing up 
This portion of the garden should be set aside as much as 
possible for root crops, such as Beet, Carrots, Parsnips, Salsifv 
ini/onera. Turnips, and such-like, as no manure need be 
applied. Trench it over after the Celery crop is lifted and 
refuse g °° d dreSS1Dg of fresh lime ’ ROot '> and burnt garden 
The frame ground should be got in readiness for brinrina 
forward many kinds of early vegetables. Old hotbeds should 
be turned up, which make excellent, material for mam- 
vegetables that will need nursing along after planting. The 
frames and lights should be repaired and painted, and new 
hotbeds made up m readiness. This should be done in a pleas¬ 
ing and workmanlike manner, and, where possible, use fresh 
leaves in preference to manure. Three parts leaves and one 
part long stable litter will make excellent fermenting material, 
but great care should be exercised not to attempt to place the 
soil, sow or plant the crops till the heat is well on the decline. 
1 lie mildest possible heat, is all that is required to forward 
and bring to perfection most kitchen garden crops 
The seed order should be carefully looked through and sent 
off without delay. I strongly advise all to make their own 
selection, and not trust to made-up ones, though good in their 
way. The gardener should certainly be in a better position 
to know the requirements than anyone else. 
