60 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 24, 1993 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
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Among the Orchids. 
Odontoglossums. —There are no Orchids so much sought 
after at the present time as the superior typical varieties and 
the spoiled kinds of 0. crispum. One cannot wonder a.t the 
prominent position these have gained in the estimation of our 
prominent Orchid specialists when all things appertaining to 
their admirable characteristics are considered. In the beauty of 
perfection, what is more desirable than a finely-developed 
and well-flowered raceme of this species? Combine this with 
the fact that they are easily accommodated and procured in an 
imported condition for a modest outlay. Little wonder, there¬ 
fore, that the species has become not only attractive for the 
Orchid specialists, but a necessity on the stalls of market 
growers, from which they are transferred to the florists’ shop 
windows, where they become subjects of admiration to almost 
all who pass the shops, not only in London, but in the large 
towns of the provinces. I mentioned in my “ Cultural Notes ” 
to The Gardening World in the autumn the cultural condi¬ 
tions then desirable in respect to repotting. Where the system 
then advised was acted upon, the plants in most cases will now 
be reaching maturity of growth; and when the pseudo-bulb 
has formed, the flower-scape will be making its appearance 
through the axils of the leaves. 
Slogs and Snails. —In this stage it is particularly desirable 
that the tender flower-scape should be protected from attacks 
by slugs and small snails. If a clean piece of cottonwool is 
wrapped around the base of the pseudo-bulb it- forms an 
obstacle over which these pests find it difficult to travel, and 
it prevents, to some extent, their reaching the scape. Some 
small pieces of Lettuce-leaves, placed on the pots and stages, 
or some brewers’ grains or bran-meal, may be placed on small 
pieces of glass or broken pots on which these pests may be 
found feeding, and, with the aid of a light, they may be caught 
and destroyed. This may be considered a small item, but 
when it is looked at in the light of the result of a year’s work 
with the plant the necessity of every precaution being taken 
becomes obvious. 
Greenfly. —At the present season, where fire-heat becomes 
necessary, greenfly and other insect pests are almost sure to 
make their appearance. Owing to the dull and unfavourable 
conditions prevailing, it is difficult to keep these in check, and, 
for the present, it can only be done by carefully sponging the 
plants or flower-scapes affected. A little X L All wash or diluted 
soft soap is about the best mixture for sponging purposes just 
at the present time, until the conditions become such that 
spraying may be safely resorted to. I do not like fumigating 
Odontoglossums if it can possibly be avoided, ' 
Imported Plants. —During the last few years, owing to the 
disturbances prevailing in the internal affair’s of Colombia, it 
has been a difficult matter to import Odontoglossums, and, 
consequently, the arrivals of fresh importations have been few 
and far between. Judging from notices received of importa¬ 
tions arriving to prominent importers, these will soon become 
generally distributed, and a. note in reference to their treat¬ 
ment may not be altogether out of place. The treatment of 
imported Odontoglossums will depend greatly upon the season 
of the year in which the plants arrive in this country. 
Plants arriving at the present season, providing they are pro¬ 
tected from frost, are not, as a rule, nearly so difficult to start 
into growth and become re-established as is found to be the 
case when plants are received during the late spring and early 
summer. The principal cause of this may be traced to the 
fact that the plants do not suffer to such an extent in transit 
during cool weather as is found to be the case in summer, 
the plants being thus in a plumper state. 
If laid out on a stage on a bed of moist ashes or sphagnum 
the eyes soon commence to plump, and they break away into 
growth. As soon as this is observed the plants should be 
transferred to pots just sufficiently large to contain them 
comfortably. The pot should be filled to one-third its depth 
with chopped Bracken-fem roots, the remaining compost con¬ 
sisting of about equal proportions of fibrous brown peat, leaf 
soil, and chopped sphagnum, with sufficient rough sand or 
broken crocks to retain the compost in a porous condition. 
Press the material moderately firm, or it will be difficult to 
induce the sphagnum to grow satisfactorily on the surface. 
Use only rain-water ; and it should also be borne in mind that 
in any instance where leaf soil is included in the soil for 
Orchids, there will be far less water required, and it will always 
be necessaiy to water fresh imported plants with considerable 
discretion. Spraying the surface or watering with a fine rose 
can will usually provide all that is necessaiy in respect to root- 
moisture requirements, even after the plants have become 
established and the pots are filled with roots. H. J. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Cucumbers. —Extreme care will have to' be exercised for 
some time yet to maintain plants in a healthy and fruitful con¬ 
dition ‘which have been bearing through the winter. The 
growths are 1 much more likely to become infested with 
insect life, such as red spider, tihrip, or aphis, as well as mildew, 
at this season than any other; and when once these are 
allowed to go unchecked the plants are quickly rained beyond 
recovery. Owing principally to the want of fight and sun¬ 
shine at this time of the year they are much less vigorous, 
and it should be borne in mind that extreme means taken to 
eradicate either of the above pests will be favourable to the 
spread of the other. For example, a hot, day temperature 
will keep the plants free from mildew, but will assuredly in¬ 
crease the number of redl spider. Endeavour as far as pos¬ 
sible to hold all pests in check from the first, winch can only 
be done by good management and careful observation by 
those in charge. 
The young growths should be encouraged as much as 
possible, pruning out any which appear useless, and try to 
cover the trellis evenly and regularly, though it may be thin, 
with clean, healthy Vines andl foliage. Strictly avoid over¬ 
cropping, and never allow the fruits to remain on the plants 
after they are of sufficient size to cut. If these are placed in 
a little water, and kept in the same temperature as for grow¬ 
ing in, they will be good for ten days or a fortnight, 
A small surface dressing should be given the plants about 
once a fortnight, a small quantity 'sufficing. This should be 
of a light, porous nature, leaf soil, road grit, and light, fibrous 
loam being best for winter growth. All should be well mixed 
and thoroughfy warmed before using. The plants must not be 
over-watered, but in no case let them suffer for the want of it, 
or the fruits will be bitter and unfit for use. The paths and 
walls <should be damped down early on all bright afternoons 
with good strong farmyard manure water, which will be found 
most beneficial. 
Successional plants ought now to be ready for planting on 
well-prepared beds. The fermenting material should have 
been mixed and well turned] for a feKv days before placing it 
m the house. Do not place the soil on before being quite 
certain that the heat is on the decline, or in all probability 
it will become baked, -after which it is practically worthless. 
Little difficulty will be found in the after management of 
these plants if given a good start, and plenty of heat is at 
command 1 . As the days lengthen the more vigorous will be 
the growth. 
Make another sowing of seed singly in 60-sized pots ; use a 
light compost, which -is best warmed ; and the seed will ger¬ 
minate better if it is not made too firm. In the case of veiy 
old seed 1 great care should be taken not to give too much 
water until the plants are well up. Plunge in a fairly strong 
bottom heat out of the way of rats and mice, as these have a 
great liking for the seed, and are sure to find it out if there 
are any about. 
