THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 14, 1903. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. The Kitchen Garden. 
Among the Orchids. 
Dendi’oMum Dearei -—There are certain species of Orchids 
that are remarkable for the prolonged period that the flowers 
last in perfection. Among this class there are none which 
retain their flowers in good condition longer than D. Dearei. 
If placed in the Cat-tleya house or in a warm intermediate 
house, the flowers last in joerfeet condition for three months. 
This is the more remarkable seeing that the flowers are white 
with the exception of the pale-green disc on. the lip. D. Dearei 
is a native of the Philippine Islands, and was first discovered by 
Colonel Deare in 1882. It is a species that may truly Do 
termed a perpetual grower. A light position in the stove or 
Phalaeupsis house should be assigned, where it can obtain 
plenty of heat and moisture throughout the year. It must 
never be allowed to suffer from want of water at the roots at 
any season ; but during the dull winter months discretion must 
be used to prevent the plants becoming soddened and stagnant 
about the roots. 
I find the plants do best when grown in baskets suspended 
near the roof-glass; the baskets must be carefully drained with 
clean broken crocks. The potting compost should consist of 
good fibrous peat, two parts to- one of chopped living sphagnum 
moss. Sprinkle among this some small pieces of broken char¬ 
coal, broken crocks or rough sand, sufficient to retain the com¬ 
post in an open and porous condition; as the plants require 
such a liberal amount of root, moisture, this cultural detail 
should not be overlooked. The best time to repot the plants 
is in the early spring, when new roots are observed being 
emitted from the base of the developing growth. 
Cypripedium fairieanum Hybrids.—Owing to the fact that 
C. fairieanum has practically become extinct to cultivation, the 
hybrids which have been derived from its influence must 
naturally become annually more scarce and valuable in collec¬ 
tions. There is certainly no more refined and beautiful a race 
of hybrids than those comprising this group. In addition to 
the qualities possessed in the flowers, there remains a still 
greater charm in the fact that the flowers are produced during 
the dull winter months of the year, when flowers of any descrip¬ 
tion are appreciated. This fact alone should be sufficient re¬ 
commendation where it is desirable to have a goodly supply of 
plants in bloom in the cooler divisions of our Orchid houses. 
A few of the varieties I know are very scarce, and consequently 
out of the reach of those who are unable to pay disproportionate 
prices, but the majority, such as C. arthurianum, C. a. pul- 
cliellum, C. Nio-be, C. vexillarium, C. Juno, and one or two 
others are among the desirable kinds that may lie' procured 
at a moderate rate ; and these may all be successfully cultivated 
in the cold end of an ordinary stove or in the temperature of 
an intermediate house. C. arthurianum will grow more satis¬ 
factorily with C. insigne than in any other position. 
There is one thing resented by the C. fairieanum section of 
hybrids—that is, they do' not care about being disturbed at 
the root. It is desirable, therefore, when repotting to see. that 
ample room be afforded so that under favourable conditions the 
plant will not require potting afresh for a coflple of seasons. 
The pots used should be drained to one-third their depth with 
clean broken crocks. The potting compost, consisting of good 
fibrous peat two parts, a little leaf soil, some fibrous loam, 
chopped sphagnum moss, and rough sand. Press the compost 
moderately firm about the roots ; mound the compost towards 
the centre, and surface with a layer of living sphagnum moss, 
Water thoroughly as soon as the plants- have been repotted, 
and protect the foliage from the scorching rays of the sun. 
H. .T. 
READERS AND ADVERTISERS are requested 
to note that the address of THE GARDENING 
WORLD is now 37 ond 38, Shoe Lane, London, E.C. 
Herbs.—Not by any means do herbs form one of the least 
important items cultivated in the kitchen garden; and a well- 
arranged herb border is not only pleasing and useful, but 
extremely interesting. Far too often these are placed away in 
some out-of-the-way corner, are left to take care of themselves, 
and oftentimes the collection is but a veiy poor one. To 
preserve many kinds in a healthy and vigorous condition, some 
attention should be given them annually, and every two or 
three years the border should be rearranged and the roots 
taken up and divided. Now is a capital time to proceed with 
the work. Choose, if possible, a border facing east or west, 
well trench the ground, working in plenty of old hotbed 
manure, and as soon as the soil is nicely weathered this should 
be well raked down, made level, and the beds properly marked 
out. Endeavour to have the perennial kinds together, and the 
annuals likewise, graduating them according to their heights. 
Mint, which is one of the most important, and is used more 
or less in every household, is one of tire simplest plants to 
grow, providing it receives a proper mode of treatment; but, 
on the other hand, in many places, if a reasonable amount of 
care is not taken of it, it quickly dies out. This should always 
be planted in two positions to ensure a. regular supply. One 
place should be assigned for a small quantity, such as the foot 
of a south wall, which will make a considerable difference to its 
earliness.. This- plant revels in a light porous soil which has 
been well drained ; it should annually receive a surface dressing 
of sifted leaf soil, and taken up and parted a.t least- every third 
year. A small portion of Mint should always be lifted during 
autumn, planted in boxes, and placed in quite cool houses or 
pits, as. early Mint in most large establishments is generally in 
great demand. It is easily propagated from cuttings, which 
should be taken off with a sharp knife just underneath tire 
ground when about 3 in. in length, placed under liandlights, 
and kept close for a few days. When well rooted it- may be 
planted out in its. permanent position. It will be well to men¬ 
tion that there are several varieties of Mint, many of which are 
hardly worth growing, and, as is the case with many other 
things, the better the variety the- more difficult it is to- cultivate. 
The narrow-leaved variety, known as the Spear Mint, is by far 
and away the best-, and certainly the least robust. 
Sage.—Cuttings of this should be struck annually just as 
growth commences ; it will root quite freely in a slight hotbed, 
and young plants stand a severe winter much better than older 
ones. This succeeds in almost- any kind of garden soil. 
Parsley.—Nothing looks better in a kitchen garden than a 
thorough good bed of Parsley, and this, if possible, should be 
arranged at one end of the herb border. The best results are 
obtained by sowing the seed at this season in boxes, and raising 
under glass in a slight heat. Plant out one foot apart all ways 
when large- enough. This is by far the best way to obtain really 
fine Parsley for summer and autumn use-; but several small 
sowings should be made through the summer on warm borders, 
and thinned to 3 in. apart t-o stand the winter. There 
are several very excellent varieties now in cultivation. Among 
the best I know to be relied upon are Yeitch’s Splendid Curled, 
Dobbie’s Selected, and the Fern-leaved variety. In planting 
out and thinning, endeavour to weed out- any which are not true 
to character. Soot- is one of the finest stimulants that can be 
given. 
Lemon Thyme.—In some places this is difficult- to grow, but 
by planting it about every third year, and top-dressing heavily 
with road sand, little difficulty will be found in growing this to 
perfection. 
Winter Savory.—This is best raised from seed ; though the 
plants will last for some years, it will get- cut in very severe 
winters. 
Pot Marjoram will thrive freely in almost any kind of soil, 
but the clumps should be divided every third year, and planted 
in rows one foot, apart. 
