984 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 23 1903. 
weather a slight covering ol' hay will be beneficial; should the 
beds become thoroughly dry and require watering, the water 
should be used quite hot', as it will do no- harm, and at the 
same time have the effect of destroying wood-lice and other 
insect pests. 
Cabbage.- —Unless already done, the soil should be pulled 
well round the stems of the plant quite up to- the heart, break¬ 
ing it up- as finely as possible, and this may either be done by 
pulling it in ridges, as- when moulding up Potato® or pulling 
ro them in the form of flat ho-eing. The earlier plantings .have 
made a very luxuriant growth, and unless precautionary 
measures are taken to protect them, these- will unquestionably 
suffer much. If the surplus plants left in the seed-beds have- 
not already been pricked out into- -snug quarters, lose no time 
in doing s-o, as these will probably be needed in, the spring. 
Celery. —Complete the earthing of all la-te-planted rows, but 
extra care should now be exercised in do-ing so, more especially 
in stiff, stubborn ground. Choose the middle and driest part 
of the day for the work, making the soil as fine as possible, and 
working it- well round the plants with the' hands. Should 
severe weather set in, do not hesitate to- place a- light covering 
of either bracken or straw over the tops, removing it imme¬ 
diately the frosts are passed. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree, Herts 1 . 
Among the Orchids. 
Coelogyne cristata, —This -species having completed its 
growth will now be benefited if placed under cooler and 
slightly dried conditions, in a position where they may get 
the maximum amount of obtainable light for a tew weeks'. 
This will assist the pseudo-bulbs- to mature, and will be par¬ 
ticularly beneficial in localities where this species suffers from 
the effects o-f the outside winter conditions-, as the cooler and 
drier conditions will have a, tendency to retard the advance: 
rnent of the flower-scapes until such time as better conditions 
are prevailing outside, and little difficulty is then experienced 
in inducing the flower-s-ca-pes to expand in a satisfactory 
manner. 
For several years past queries have reached me from London, 
its immediate neighbourhood, and from smoky manufacturing 
districts, with complaints that the flower-scape, after success¬ 
fully advancing to a certain stage, has suddenly become- dis¬ 
coloured, and on examination has been found to contain a 
large quantity of moisture. I have made inquiries and found 
that fog has prevailed a few days previously, and this has 
had its effect on the tender growth of the advancing flower- 
scape. It seems to have abstracted the whole of the starch 
and feeding matter, and has allowed nothing to remain but 
moisture, which, as- in the case o-f expanded flowers, quickly 
turns to pulp and decay. With several years' experience in a 
low-lying London district I had the same difficulties- to contend 
with. It is well-nigh impossible to attempt to procure flowers 
of Coelogyne c-rista-t-a until March in the immediate neighbour¬ 
hood of London. 
It is advisable, therefore, to keep the plants as backward as 
possible at- the present sea-son. In districts- where the climatic 
outside conditions' are more favourable the plants can be 
more liberally treated. There is a greater scarcity of flowers 
at the end of January and the early part of the month of 
February, perhaps, than at any other season of the year. It 
is then that tire white racemes- o-f Coelogyne cristata are- most 
useful, and are appreciated for cut-flower and decorative pur¬ 
poses. It is advisable that after a- short period o-f rest the 
plants be removed to conditions where they may be more 
liberally treated. The flower-scapes being apparent at the 
present time, no great difficulty will be found in using one’s 
judgment to remove the plants in such time that they may be 
enabled to expand their scapes at or about a particular period 
when their flowers are required. 
C. cristata alba is always later flowering than the other 
varieties that make up the C. cristata group. It is probably 
the most pure white of any plant in cultivation. Not the 
slightest trace of any colouring matter is discernible. It will 
thrive equally well under the same conditions that- are re¬ 
quired for the typical kinds. It has a more elongated 
rhizome between the pseudo-bulbs, and consequently it is lucre 
of a rambling nature than the other varieties. It does well 
when grown on a- large flat raft of teak wood. After flowering 
it requires to have its repotting requirements annuallv 
a-ttended to. After the potting compost has been renewed 
and secured in spring, the leading pseudo-bulbs should be bent 
back arid pegged securely in a desired position, so that thev 
may be induced to keep within their allotted space. The 
bending o-f the rhizome also induces the back pseudo-bulbs to 
break. A large and stately specimen is by this means easilv 
and readily procured. " H T ^ 
Zonal Pelargoniums at Oakhurst, Ealing. 
Zonal Pelargoniums 1 , or Geraniums, as they are generally 
called, are a- most useful and decorative class of plants. Their 
popularity is undoubtedly due to their simple requirements 
and the brilliancy of their showy and effective dowel’s. There¬ 
fore, eveiybody grows them. But it is not everybodv who 
grows them for autumn and winter decoration. Most persons 
aie satisfied with the rich effects they produce in summer. In 
is not so at Oakhurst, where Mr. C. Edwards, gardener to H. 
^ • 4 ©al, Esq., J.P., Mayor of Ealing, makes a- special effort to 
have them in bloom as a counter-blast, so to speak, to the ever¬ 
lasting Chrysanthemum. And so, when Mr. Peal’s friends are 
satiated with the latter, they can be introduced to the former. 
As all classes of plants have their special hues, so in these two 
classes-—multifarious as these tints appear-—for although there 
is a general resemblance in the colours of these- flowers, there 
is yet an appreciable difference between them. Moreover, 
such diversities, small though they be, of tint and shade rather 
add to than detract from the- charms of each collection. 
Certainly, a house full of zonals at- this time of year (Novem¬ 
ber) is worth all the attention required during the summer 
months. The colours-, t-oo, just now are more refined and less 
glaring than obtains when the light is stranger and the sun 
mo-re; intense, although one cannot complain this year of the 
intensity o-f the light-. Still, it is' remarkable how plants 
push on, flower and fruit, and reproduce their kind in all 
vicissitudes of w’eather. The plants in question are staged in 
a span-roofed house, and, to say the least of them, are quite 
as attractive as a collection of ’Mums. 
The names, too, or varieties of the zonal Pelargonium, are 
equally as- confusing as in other classes of popular plants. 
Therefore we will only select a fe-w, for, after all, it is more 
in oult-ure than variety. The whites are wonderfully fine, and. 
strange to say, have many names. Mr. Edwards, however, 
fancies- Sir Percivale first-; it is 1 a large, round-flowered variety 
and goo-d for winter work. Niagara and Robert Cannell are 
also- much appreciated. A vqry fine blush variety, distinct and 
pleasing, and o-f a delicate lavender-pink, is well named 
Delicat-a. T'it-ania. is a clear salmon ; Sergt. Blondiu a vivid 
scarlet- ; Henry Cannell a puipie-crimson, with fine broad over¬ 
lapping petals-; while Richard Dean, on account o-f its purple- 
magenta, attracts all eyes-. Mr. Edwards prepares his plants 
in March by taking cuttings. ' These are placed in light sandy 
soil and grown on till they are ready for 5 in. or 6 in. pots, 
according to their vigour. The pots are stood out in the open 
with a view to- get well-ripened growths* These are pinched 
back as occasion requires-, and all flowering shoots removed. 
About the beginning of September, liquid guano is applied, 
and the p-lants are- housed by the end of the month. Tims this 
simple treatment- ensures robust plants and fine flowers, a 
maximum display at a minimum cost. C. B. C. 
Acton, W. 
