548 
June 27, HXrt 
THE OARDENINQ WORLD. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
The exceptionally heavy rainfall for this month, with very 
little sunshine, has kept vegetation in a very backward condi¬ 
tion. We have registered here up to the l7th no less than 
4.98 in..; consequently the ground is now in a very soddened 
condition. The surface soil should be kept well stirred up 
with the hoe among all growing crops, and this, with warmer 
weather, which we may reasonably hope for, will do much to 
hasten the growth of the various vegetables. 
Spring Onions, where sown in the open ground, should now 
be finally thinned and given a. dressing of soot and vegetable 
manure. The Onion fly has so far not given much trouble, 
and in most cases these have made good progress. Those 
planted out for producing seed are now throwing up their 
flower spikes. These should be well supported by staking and 
tying, so that, wind and rain will not damage them. 
“ Leeks.— The earliest plantings should by this date have 
been blanched to the desired height, and should now be 
thoroughly earthed up with soil finely broken. Continue to 
blanch successional crops in the same way as previously ad¬ 
vised. 
Cucumbers in pits and frames should be gone over weekly 
and the old growths well thinned out. Give copious supplies 
of manure water to- those which are in full bearing, and fumi¬ 
gate with X L All occasionally. Frames and pits which 
have been occupied with Potato® and Carrots, etc., may 
also be planted with successional plants, allowing one to a 
light. These will give good supplies during late autumn 
without much trouble. 
Late Peas. —Immediately the plants are above ground thin 
out to a distance of about 6 in., overcrowding being fatal to 
good results. Mulch between the plants, earth up, and stake 
at the same time, and see that these are kept well supplied with 
moisture, should the weather set in hot and dry, both at the 
roots and overhead, which is best done during the evening. 
Lettuce, so far, is particularly good. Thin out the young 
plants to a foot apart as soon as ready, and make small plant¬ 
ings on north borders. Make small sowings every ten days 
or so of both Cabbage and Cos varieties. 
Endive.- —Thin out as soon as ready, allowing a distance of 
1 ft, to 14 in. apart, and plant some also on north borders, or 
in shady parts of the garden. 
Chicory, an invaluable winter salad, should be thinned and 
the ground constantly stirred between the plants, and make one 
more sowing in an open position. 
Spinach. —Sow thinly the improved broad-leaved kinds on 
good ground. The Carter is a very excellent variety for 
summer use. Young fresh leaves are much to be preferred 
to those picked from old seedy plants. The New Zealand kind 
is also invaluable for late summer use; it is generally liked, 
and is very prolific. Keep well supplied with water, and move 
the soil about frequently; when thoroughly established, it 
gives but little trouble. 
Cauliflowers are now turning in plentifully. The heads 
should be kept well covered, either by placing leaves on them 
or tying them up. If they are' found to be turning in too fast, 
pull up and hang head downwards in a cellar or some such 
cool place, and by damping them over daily ‘they will keep 
good for many days. 
Coleworts. —Make one more good sowing of Rosette and 
London Green on a south border; these will be very service¬ 
able for late use. 
Brussels Sprouts. —Those which were planted early are 
making good headway. Ply the draw hoe between them, 
drawing some soil well around the stems to keep them in an 
upright position. Make one more good planting from later 
sowings, which will yield abundance of good buttons in spring. 
French Beans growing in cold frames should receive every 
encouragement to continue in a healthy condition, as it will 
be some time before these can be picked outside. Give a 
good surface dressing of horse droppings and weak doses of 
Peruvian guano water eveiy other watering. Thorouehlv 
syringe the foliage with tepid water morning and afternoon, 
and close the lights during cold nights. Sow more seed of 
Canadian Wonder and Ne Plus Ultra on good ground, choosing 
a south border if possible. 
Turnips.— Immediately the bulbs are large enough for cook¬ 
ing purposes they should be lifted at this season, and stored 
in ashes or sand under a north wall, or they will quickly run 
to flower and be worthless, but by so doing they will remain 
in good condition for weeks. 
Sow French Breakfast Radish every ten days where these 
are required daily, selecting a fairly shady part of the garden. 
See that they do not. suffer for moisture, and protect against 
birds. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Among the Orchids. 
Brassavola digbyana. —This species has been the subject of 
considerable shuffling among botanists ; but as we have now 
dropped back to its original order of nomenclature, we may 
hope it may be allowed to' remain. Its quaint characteristics, 
combined with its vigorous habit and floriferous qualities, 
render it. an object, of considerable interest, and where it has 
been used as a. parent in the' production of hybrids, it has 
proved one of the most useful. Some years; ago it. was thought 
impossible to induce Brassavola digbyana. to become a seed- 
bearing parent. Whatever difficulty then existed is now re¬ 
moved, and there are none of the allied genera that fertilise 
more readily when crossed Avith other Brassavola®, Epiden- 
drums, Cattleyas;, and Laelias. The seed vessel is as quaint 
as the flower, often upAvard of 9 in. in length, very narrow, 
excepting in the centre, Avliere the ovary is situated. The 
seed pods require from nine t.o. twelve months to ripen, so that 
in this respect they are similar to the Cattleyas, 
The plants can be easily grown, in a. Cattleya. house, or warm 
stove baskets or shallow pans should be the most suitable, as 
in these the plants can be suspended near the roof glass, where 
they may obtain the maximum amount of strong light; and, 
on the other hand, it prevents any large amount of material 
being placed about the roots, which is. a consideration when re¬ 
potting requirements become necessary. Repotting should be. 
done when the new roots appear, immediately after flowering, 
but unless the basket has become decayed or the plant outgrown 
it.S container it is better left root-bound and undisturbed. 
Tire groAvth now reaches; maturity, and the flowers have passed, 
after which root, moisture must be afforded with discretion; 
only sufficient is necessary to retain the pseudo-bulbs in a 
normally plump condition. 
The Cool House.— After the prolonged flowering season the 
Odontoglossum house Avill look bare, giving one an opportunity 
of careful observation, so. that, the conditions, of the individual 
specimens, may be more closely examined. Where plants are 
being removed from one position tcy another, either in use foi 
decorative or show purposes;, or where the collections are being 
replenished from outside supplies; insect, pests, such as green 
and black aphis or yelloAv thrips, are almost, sure to he intro¬ 
duced to collections. One cannot be too careful of such plants, 
and, if possible, they should be isolated for a. time until the 
cleanliness of the plants thus used can be assured. It is fai 
easier to introduce pests; than to get rid of them, and careless¬ 
ness at the present season will play havoc on the neAv growths 
developing if thrips are allowed to become established on 
the plants. 
Fumigation must be avoided in the Odontoglossum house. 
The only method that can, safely be pursued is to spray the 
plants with some. safe, insecticide, such as XL All wash, at in¬ 
tervals. of about once a, fortnight, during the summer months. 
