962 
THE OAR DENI NO WORLD. 
November 21, 1903. 
WORK OF THE WEEK 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Exotic Ferns. —The amount of water required by these will 
now be considerably less, than when growth was active', and 
although many species and varieties do not die quite down, yet 
these require less water than formerly. Ferns that are grown 
in baskets for suspending should also be kept rather drier; a. 
little applied occasionally with a can, instead of immersing the 
whole basket in a vessel of water, will suffice. Some knowledge 
of the requirements of the various species and varieties is re¬ 
quisite, as they differ considerably, not only in their habits 
during growth, but also when at rest, or partial rest. To 
allow Ferns to become actually dry at any time is harmful, and 
the rest each species, requires must be brought about gradually 
by giving less! water and by maintaining a drier atmosphere 
about the plants from now until growth recommences in the 
new year. In the fernery proper the requirements' of the plants 
can be better attended to than when they are placed here and 
there among other plants, and it is a capital plan, where pos¬ 
sible, to collect them and arrange by themselves for a few 
weeks. If not already done, the shading material should be 
removed to allow the little sun we now get to reach them and 
assist the plants to ripen and rest. 
Many specie® classed as stove Ferns, will thrive in the green¬ 
house during the summer and autumn months, but. these must 
now be br ought, back to warmer quarters. The majority of 
exotic Ferns will now be best kept in a temperature of 50 deg. 
by night, with a. rise of 5 deg. or 8 deg. in the da.y. It is bad 
practice to cut down Ferns, until the fronds are all quite 
decayed. 
Hardy Ferns in Pots. —For the adornment of rooms and 
cold greenhouses in winter many of the hardy Ferns are well 
adapted, and by their use for corridors and rooms that are 
draughty much injury to more tender subjects is avoided. 
Beyond this, the beauty of their fresh green, fronds will bear 
comparison with many tender exotics. I append a short list, 
of kinds well adapted for culture in pots, viz., Aspidium an¬ 
gular© and its varieties, A. aculeatum, A. falcatum Fortunei, 
A. Londhitis, A. munitum, Polypodium cambricum, the common 
Hart’s'-tongue (Scolopendrium vulgar©), Lastrea Filix-mas, 
crista,ta, and L. Standishi. Plants may now be lifted and 
potted up in light rich soil, and when well watered they should 
be placed in a. shady part of the greenhouse for a few days t>o> 
re-establish them. An occasional sponging of the foliage with 
tepid water will be neoes-sary for the removal of dust-. The 
plants may be plunged in ashes in a shaded spot in the open 
for the summer’, and they will again do. service another winter 
without repotting. 
Eucharis amazonica. — The pure white fragrant flowers of 
this Lily are always in. request, and especially about, Christmas' 
and the New Year. Plants now growing freely should be 
accorded a, strong heat, with abundance of humidity in the 
atmosphere. The amount of water required a,t the root, must 
be governed by the, condition the plants are hr. A healthy 
plant cannot easily be"over-watered, provided the other condi¬ 
tions are favourable, such as good drainage and a well-heated 
pit or low house. The best plants that have come under my 
notice were growing in a low span-roofed stove set apart, for 
them alone; they were never actually rested, and produced a, 
wealth of bloom the greater part of the year. When, growth 
was most active tire water-pot was freely used, and the plants 
were syringed overhead several times, a, day. When one con¬ 
siders the conditions under which the Eucharis grows in its 
native habitat, this treatment was of the best, and I am sure 
better results could not be achieved. It is useless taking up 
their cultivation unless plenty of heat and a suitable structure 
can be devoted to them. Tb attempt cultivating a, few plants 
among other stove subjects rarely gives good results. A 
house that is utilised for forcing other plants at this time, if 
kept at about 65 deg. to 75 deg., will sometimes suit the 
Eucharis, especially if a hot-bed of stable manure and tree- 
leaves is made up therein. They may either be plunged in 
the material, if not too hot, or placed on stages, where the 
mild ammonia, arising from the manure will be highly beneficial. 
K. M. 
Fruit under Glass. 
Earliest Permanent Vinery.— Here the Vines may now he 
pruned, cutting a,t the second eye if any doubt exists as to 
the fir-st being weak, using the knife in, preference to the 
secateur, as it, makes a much cleaner cut-. Where rods have 
not yet filled their allotted space, leave from 2 ft. to 3 ft. of 
new wood if' well ripened. Before attending further to the 
Vines wash all woodwork and glass with warm, soapy water, 
and well rinse down with the syringe-, then lime-wash the walls 
with fresh-slaked lime. Assuming the Vines are free of mealy 
bug, all that will be necessary is to remove any loose bark, and 
with a, pointed label or blunt, pocket-knife clean around the 
spurs, afterwards scrubbing the Vines with hot water and a 
little soft soap, and avoiding damaging the buds. If the house 
is addicted to mildew it, ivould be, well to paint the Vines over 
with a thick paste of sulphur and milk, and then tie the canes 
in position. On 'the other hand, should mealy bug be about 
carefully examine the Vines, killing all that can be seen, and 
dropping a little methylated spirit on, the place where they 
were found. Next clean away every particle of bark that seems 
likely to, harbour the pest, especially around the spurs, dropping 
a little of the, spirit into any hole that presents itself. Pre¬ 
vious to this mats or bags' should have been laid on the border 
to catch all filth, rubbish, etc., which must, be carefully carried 
out when the work is. finished. In bad cases it would be well 
to touch all the wires, holdfasts, etc., with pure paraffin, and in 
washing the Vines put a. wineglass,ful of the same into 3 gals, 
of hot water with the soft soap and keep it well irritated ivhile 
ihe work is being done, as the oil will ascend to, the surface it 
left to itself. After clearing away all rubbish prick up the 
border to the depth of 2 in. or 3 in., raking this off and re¬ 
placing with fresh loam, after adding a 6-in. potful of soot 
and Thomson’s Vine manure and an 8-in. potful of wood- 
ashes to every bushel. A house started at the end of Novem¬ 
ber should produce ripe Grapes towards the middle of May; 
therefore', the gardener must be entirely guided as to the date 
of starting and when ripe fruits are expected. During mild 
weather use no fire-heat for the first, ten days; and endeavour to 
maintain a night temperature of 45 deg. to 50 deg., with an 
advance of 10 deg. or 15 deg. with sun-heat, syringing the 
Vines about 9 a,.m. and again at 2 p.m. with warm water. 
Pot Figs. -These are often employed to supply the first 
crops in April or early May, and to achieve this a house should 
be closed forthwith. The trees will have been repotted or top- • 
dressed some time ago, if these calendarial instructions have 
been followed out; therefore all that will be required now is to 
wash and clean the house as for Vines. Remove any shoots not 
inquired for the crop, so that plenty of light can be had for the 
fruiting wood, and wash the same with soft soap and sulphur or 
other insecticide, and stand the pots on pedestals as advocated’ 
for pot, Vines a fortnight since. Fresh-gathered Oak or sweet 
Chestnut tree leaves will form a, good bottom heating medium 
to start with, syringing the trees mornings and afternoons, and 
maintain a night temperature of 48 deg. to 50 deg. for the 
present. 
Trees Planted Out. —These will form a succession if started 
towards the end of December ; therefore push on all necessary 
pruning; that is, the thinning out of any fruitless wood, and 
though root pruning should have been clone a. month ago, it 
may still be carried out if any trees' have run, too much to 
gross wood. Wash and clean the house, trees, etc., as men¬ 
tioned above, and afford a top-dressing of loam, with old plaster 
and bonemeal or Thomson’s infixed well together after having 
removed the surface soil ; that is, with bearing trees, those! 
growing too, strong already not requiring this aid. Allow a 
