May 30, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
4-61 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Callas.— These will now be passing out of bloom, and the 
amount of water afforded should be reduced in order to' allow 
the plants to go gradually to rest. The Arum Lily may be 
styled semi-aquatic, therefore to subject the plants to a roasting 
process would be harmful; at the same time, a partial rest is 
essential to obtain the best results. Some gardeners plant 
them out for the summer months in trenches, in like manner 
to Celery trenches, whilst others retain them in pots until the 
old foliage dies down, when the plants are repotted and started 
into growth. I haY© adopted both methods, and am in favour 
of the latter, for I find that the flowers are produced earlier 
in the year by so doing, owing, no doubt, to their receiving no 
check as those planted out must do when lifted in autumn; 
also that the conns become better matured. Stand the plants 
in a. sheltered part, of the frame-ground and protect at night for 
a time. A position where a few hours’ sun reaches them daily 
should be chosen, and do. not allow them to become too diy at 
any time. As soon as new growth commences cut down the old 
leaves to. within 1 ft. of the soil, and shake out most of the old 
soil from them and repot in a. compost of two parts loam to 
one each of leaf-soil and decayed manure, adding some river- 
sand or road-grit. In potting, pull off all the small conns that 
will be found around the base of the large ones, and repot the 
largest two or three in a 24-sized pot. Some of the smaller 
corms may be potted somewhat thickly by themselves for in¬ 
creasing the stock. They will make flowering crowns in two' 
or three years if treated liberally. C. elliottiana and C. Little 
Gem should be kept in smaller pots and afforded a wanner 
temperature at all times. 
Cannas.— Plants that are intended for greenhouse culture 
must be accorded liberal treatment, for they are gross feeders 
when established. Avoid potting too firmly, and use a lumpy 
rich compost. When the pots become well filled with healthy 
roots, repot into 1 a good size larger pot, or if wanted to flower 
in smaller pots they must be fed with Clay’s Fertiliser occa¬ 
sionally, alternating this with liquid manure from the farmyard. 
The side-shoots, if taken off at this time with some new roots 
attached, may be potted up into small pots, and grown on freely. 
This method is recommended where one wishes to increase the 
stock quickly, or to perpetuate certain varieties'. 
Salvias.—I do not advise planting these useful greenhouse 
flowering plants out, for the reason that they make over-luxu¬ 
riant growth, which seldom flowers so profusely as do plants well 
grown in pots. Shift on as required and keep the plants in 
frames, but afford abundance of air on all favourable occasions ; 
indeed, the lights should be removed entirely on dull days and 
in the evening. Continue to’ pinch out. the points to induce 
stocky plants. Seven or eight inch pots will be large enough to 
flower them in, and, when these are well filled with roots give 
an occasional watering with liquid manure well diluted. 
Caladiums. ■— Satisfactory results cannot be achieved with 
these beautiful foliage plants unless one can devote a house or 
heated pit entirely to them. They revel in strong heat well 
charged with humidity. A thin shade should be put on for 
about three hours in the hottest part of the day. Plants that 
now require a. shift should not have tliedr roots disturbed, but 
he placed in a size larger pot intact, and the soil worked round 
with the hand. A suitable compost consists, of equal parts 
fibrous loam, fibrous peat, and flaky leaf-soil, with plenty of 
sharp sand added, also some broken charcoal. The whole should 
be used as lumpy as possible, and not rammed with a stick. 
K. M. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 
Shrubbery beds and borders, which have been properly 
tended, and have received the requisite amount, of attention 
necessaiy for their well-being, will now assume a very pleasing 
appearance, and the cultivator of Hoovering trees and shrubs 
will be well repaid for apy trouble that he has bestowed upon 
them, for at this time of year many of the most beautiful 
shrubs we have are toxins' us a wealth of blossom, while others, 
such as the Japanese Maples, are equally beautiful with the 
different and sjilendidly-coloured foliage. 
Among the most noteworthy in flower are the Cytisus, and 
few shrubs surpass these for general usefulness and floriferous- 
ness. They succeed well in almost any position, and are 
specially suitable for planting on diy banks, in beds or masses. 
The somewhat new variety, C. scoparius andreanus, is a shrub 
worthy of inclusion in a,11 collections. It succeeds well in a 
loamy clay soil, and, being perfectly hardy, is suitable for any 
position, and the crimson and geld flowers are very striking. 
C. pra.ecox makes a. fair-sized, very desirable shrub, and is quite 
a mass of creamy white flowers. This variety flowers earlier 
than the Spanish. Broom, C. albus, also' a. pleasing white- 
flowered shrub, from 6 ft. to 10 ft. in height. C. brflorus, which 
has yellow flowers in pairs, looks veay well when grafted on to' 
a standard ; the slender branches, then have a pleasing, pendu¬ 
lous habit. The Cytisus can, after flowering, be pruned back 
to the older wood, but this should not be done too severely. 
Shrubs which were injured by the frost will be induced to 
break away freely if the shoots are cut back lightly, and every 
assistance should he given them to make as free a growth as 
possible. 
Newly-planted shrubs should be encouraged to make a free 
growth by syringing them in early afternoon, which will be 
a. great help, and, should the weather prove very hot and diy, 
a. good watering at the root may be given. When it is desired 
to cultivate a leader to a shrub', see that this is making an up¬ 
right growth and stake if necessary; and if there is a. tendency 
to form more than one. leader, remove all but the strongest and 
most central. 
Examine the ties which are holding shrubs to stakes, and see 
that the tying material is not injuring the hark by being too 
tight, as serious damage often occurs in this way. Hydrangea 
paniculata grandiflora : There are few shrubs more beautiful 
when in flower than this, and, whether planted in masses or as 
single specimens, it is always the object of much admiration. 
Beds of this in the woodland form splendid masses of colour 
during the summer months, and for this purpose it is worthy 
of more attention. It will he greatly benefited if a. good mulch¬ 
ing of decayed farmyard manure is given now. 
Beds of Bhododeudrons and Azaleas.—These should have 
the flowers picked off a.s they fall, for if left on the ground they 
present an untidy appearance, as well as by forming seed-pods 
at the expense of the growths, which should be made for pro¬ 
ducing flower-buds next season. Many of the Azaleas are un¬ 
fortunately seriously injured with the late frosts ; even the wood 
has suffered, and, where so, should be pruned back. 
A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldenliam House Gardens, Elstree. 
Hardy Fruits. 
The Grape Vine. — Even in this country the progress has 
been slow with this fruit, owing to so unfavourable a time 
during the month of April, but disbudding should be finished 
ere now, the strongest shoots being reserved for filling the wall 
space, avoiding over-crowding, 18 in. being a suitable distance 
between the laterals, stopping tne shoot the second or third 
leaf above the bunch. Encourage young basal growths if re¬ 
quired to replace exhausted canes, giving plenty of space be¬ 
tween, so that sun and air can penetrate among the wood, oi 
they withstand very little frost. 
The Fig.— This is another fruit whose growth lias been much 
retarded by the recent cold weather, .but at last is beginning to’ 
make headway, and will require a free hand in rubbing off supei- 
fluous growths, anything approaching crowding of the shoots 
only ending in umipened wood that succumbs to the first spell 
of hard frost; besides, such wood is usually devoid of fruit. 
Some growers pinch their shoots at the fifth or sixth leaf, but 
here good crops are annually gathered (this year excepted) 
without any stopping, rubbipg off all fruits that show as a 
secondary crop. 
