April 4, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
201 
plants. Forsythia suspensa, growing in masses, should also 
be pruned fairly hard after flowering. Unfortunately, this 
beautiful subject has not bloomed so well this season as it 
generally does owing, no doubt, to the lack of sunshine last 
autumn. A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Among the Orchids. 
Oncidium j.-—The robust-growing species of Oncidium aie 
among the most desirable plants for cool Orchid-house culture. 
There aie none more tractable to 1 cultivation, and they cannot 
be too highly recommended as suitable plants for. the attention 
of the amateur. It was my pleasure to visit an enthusiastic 
amateur last season, who had only a very small greenhouse at 
one corner of his garden, to my surprise, I found several 
plants of the lovely Oncidium macranthum in full flower, and 
in a most luxuriant condition. The owner informed me with 
just pride that he had purchased a small plant with two flowers 
on the scape in the sale rooms some years previously. He had 
sought advice from the gardening l J ress how to 1 repot, divide 
his back bulbs, and to the general requirements of the plants, 
with the result that he had procured some of the finest- 
dowered plants of this lovely species it has ever been my lot to 
see. 
0. macranthum is, perhaps, the most beautiful of this 
section. The new bulbs, having reached maturity, will now bo 
producing their flower-scapes and emitting new roots from the 
base of the recently-developed growth. It is a plant that does 
not require repotting every year ; being a free and robust root¬ 
ing kind, it should be afforded ample pot room. The hole at the 
bottom of the pot should be covered with a crock or two in 
such a manner as to permit of free drainage; on this should 
be placed chopped bracken roots to about one-third the depth 
of the pot-. The plant should then be put in position, so- that 
the base of the newly-developed growth is about level with the 
rim of the pot. The roots must be carefully placed in position 
and the potting compost worked carefully among them and 
made moderately firm. The compost, consisting of good fibrous 
peat, picked roughly, and living sphagnum moss in equal por¬ 
tions. Water the plants as soon as repotting is completed ; 
afterwards water must be given with discretion until the new 
roots have got well hold of the potting compost. Then, as 
blight weather comes on, and the flower-spike requiring greater 
support, more liberal treatment will be necessary. Where 
! suitable conditions are provided to meet the requirements of 
1 tliis handsome species, it is remarkable how freely it makes 
|growth and to the extent the flower-scapes will extend. It is 
advisable to place four or five sticks around the rim of the pot, 
so that the flower-scape' may be trained around them as. they 
advance in growth. Tins not only keeps the scapes within 
pounds, but also induces the scapes to- produce branches, and 
A much greater number of flowers are thus procured, which, if 
ied in position before the flowers expand, forms one of the 
nost desirable plants for exhibition purposes it is possible to 
■ecure. 
Other species that have similar characteristics and require 
ne same cultural conditions are Oncidium superbiens, 0. 
oxense, 0. serratum, 0. undid itum, etc. These make a chaini¬ 
ng and most inteiestingyection of plants, and, possessing good 
onstitutions., they should be cultivated extensively wherever 
macranthum is found to thrive. The only insect pests likely 
0 trouble this section of plants are green or black fly and 
lit® scale. An occasional spraying with X L All wash will 
eep the former in check, and sponging with soft water is the 
est method to remove scale. Thrips will sometimes attack 
lese plants, especially where the house is situated partly 
laded with overhanging trees. The trees become infested 
ith black thrip, and are blown by the winds on to the roof 
lass, from which they find their way into the house. A slight 
imigation or spraying with the above-mentioned wash will be 
>und the best means of destruction. H. J. 
Tne Stove and Greenhouse. 
Crotons.- —The rich colours of the leafage of these plants, 
when well grown, should commend them to all who have a 
stove, house. The present is a good time to shake out and 
repot them. A suitable compost consists of two-fifths loam, 
one of peat, one of leaf-soil, and the remaining part made up m 
sand, broken charcoal and some well-decomposed farmyard 
manure. Use clean pots and crocks, and see that the latter 
are covered with moss or some of the roughest of the potting 
material, to prevent the hne-r soil blocking the drainage. 
Splendid specimens 2 ft. high and well furnished with leaves 
to the rim of the pot may be grown in 6-in. pots. Too- often 
these plants are over-potted, to which may be attributed in 
great measure green foliage. Keep them tvell syringed and 
near the roof-glass as much as possible. 
Pelargoniums.—The zonal kinds required for flowering next 
winter should have been propagated from cuttings, inserted last 
January or February. If not already done these should be 
potted off singly into 60-sized pots. The next shift will be into 
6-in. pots, or even 7-in. if strong. Keep them gently growing 
in a light position in the- greenhouse,, and afford aid freely in 
mild weather to induce stocky growth. The longest shoots 
should also be kept pinched for the same reason. Rich and 
light soil should be used for the potting of these, and it should 
not be too finely sifted. The roots revel in equal parts loam, 
flaky leaf-soil, and rotten manure, which latter should be fairly 
dry. 
The fancy Pelargoniums should soon be fit to shift on into 
their flowering pots. The cuttings of these are usually struck in 
autumn, when cutting down the old plants after flowering, 
afterwards growing the young plants on gently all the winter. 
A similar soil to that recommended for the zonals answers well 
for them, with the exception that two-parts, loam is best in lieu 
of one. A sprinkling of bone meal and soot in the compost 
when mixing is beneficial for both sections. Maintain a sharp 
look-out for greenfly on the fancy varieties, and fumigate the 
plants immediately any are perceived. 
Cinerarias. —If plants in flower are wanted for an early 
winter display, a packet of seed should now be sown in a. pan 
of finely-sifted light soil and placed on a shelf in the greenhouse 
to germinate slowly. It is a mistake to place the seed pan in 
a strong heat, or to apply fire-heat to the plants in any stage 
of their growth. The stellata type is now immensely popular, 
and deservedly so. Should the plants not be wanted in flower 
before January or February next, then a month hence will be 
soon enough to sow the seed. 
General Remarks. —Continue to prick off and pot seedlings 
as they become large enough to handle comfortably. Use a 
light, sandy soil passed through a ]-in. sieve for tender stove 
and greenhouse seedlings, adding plenty of sharp sand. Keep 
close and well shaded until re-established, when some air 
should be given on warm days- to avoid their becoming drawn. 
The lengthening of the days, with increased sun-heat will ne¬ 
cessitate a freer use of the watering-pot, especially among 
established foliage and flowering plants, and it will soon be¬ 
come advisable to look through them twice daily. Fix up 
shading on the stove and greenhouse. K. M. 
Hardy Fruit. 
Grafting.— The present month is the best for this work, and, 
as the sap is now active, it may be undertaken at once. Some 
gardeners are averse to grafting old trees, but, having had a 
fair experience with this subject, I am more than pleased with 
the results obtained. Of course, no practical man would 
choose cankered or otherwise unhealthy trees to be operated 
on, and we should prefer fairly young trees ; but where worth¬ 
less varieties are found to exist, and such stocks are clean and 
healthy, it will well repay the grower co supersede them with 
better varieties, and be guided a bit by those succeeding best 
