*708 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 22, 1903. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
At the time of writing these notes, on August 14th, the 
rainfall here has been exactly 22 in., our average being for the 
year 25 in., and apparently no sign of improvement in the 
weather; consequently, on our heavy ground the crops gener¬ 
ally are not in such a satisfactory condition as one could wish ; 
nevertheless, the country, on the whole, was in need of a heavy 
rainfall, and the difference already to. many of our large trees 
growing in high and dry positions is most apparent. 
Potatos.— The disease is already beginning to- make sad 
havoc among the late varieties, and 1 fear, unless we get more 
sun and drier weather, this crop will suffer from it considerably. 
Any which have practically finished growing should have the 
haulm cut off and burned, and after a few days the tubers 
should be lifted when fine, and placed away under cover as 
speedily as possible, where they should be sorted over; remove 
all infested ones several times before finally storing. Those 
required for planting next season should be laid on light, airy 
racks to become green. 
Turnips. —This has undoubtedly been an ideal season, for 
these, especially so on light land, the principal danger being 
they are frequently left too. thick, and, with such rampant 
growth as, they are now making, the bulbs will be poor coin- 
pared with those which are thinned to a good distance. Of 
course, in hot, dry weather, it is absolutely necessary to leave 
them much thicker than one would in a summer like the 
present., and though these may be of good size it wall be 
advantageous to go over the rows and take out every other 
one. Later sowings should be kept well thinned before' the 
plants become drawn, and keep the hoe going frequently be¬ 
tween them. Continue to sow small breadths every ten, days 
o]- a, fortnight. Carter’s Jersey Lily, Sutton’s Snowball, and 
Webbs’ Prizetaker are each excellent varieties ; the latter, 
though a green-topped variety, is veiy hardy, handsome, and 
of first-rate quality, being one of the best winter Turnips I 
know. 
Cardoons. — Choose fine days for blanching these. As is 
well known, they take a considerable time to perfect this, and 
only a few inches of paper should be placed on. at the time, 
following with hay-bands bound closely together, banking up 
the soil just below the same. Should a spell of dry weather 
set in, means must be taken to apply plenty of moisture to 
the roots, as it isi quite impossible to obtain really good speci¬ 
mens if allowed to suffer for water at any time during their 
growing period. 
Late Peas. — Some varieties, are doing remarkably well, but 
among many tried this season we have found nothing to equal 
our old friend Autocrat; it has a good constitution, and not 
only is it a strong grower, but is also veiy prolific. Another 
very good variety, which I have tried for the first time this 
season, though not a new one, and I believe it was raised by 
Mr. Henry Eckford, of Sweet Pea fame, is Superabundant, and 
some few years have elapsed since its introduction. It is a 
most vigorous grower, an abundant bearer, and flavour good. 
It has grown with us to the height of 6 ft., laden with pods 
from top to bottom, and, all being well, I shall not fail to 
grow it again. I strongly recommend this variety to. all who' 
have to keep up a supply of Peas late in the year. 
Gourds and Pumpkins. —Unfortunately, for two years in 
succession, the.se have been much below the average; last year 
with us they were' nearly a failure, and this they seem to be as 
bad. These revel in a hot, bright summer, and must have 
plenty of sun, or are seldom satisfactory. Endeavour to expose 
the fruits to the influence of the light as much as possible, and 
when growing on pergolas or tripods the larger kinds will 
have tO' be supported in some way, and those running about 
on the flat should have the fruits elevated well above the foliage 
on boxes or something of that kind. The large edible Pumpkins, 
when w r ell ripened and carefully handled, constitute an ex¬ 
cellent winter vegetable, and when nicely served is generally 
much appreciated. 
Onions. — Spring Onions, whether raised in heat and planted 
out, or sown in the open, are generally in fine condition this 
year, except where mildew has attacked them ; the Onion Fly 
has not been, at all troublesome. The chief secret in keeping 
large Onions well through the winter is to ripen them off as 
early as possible, without which they seldom keep sound for 
any length of time. The tops should be carefully bent over, 
laying them all one way, and after a few days the large ex¬ 
hibition bulbs should be partially lifted, and by the last week 
in the present month or the first week in next the whole of 
the crop may be taken up o-n a chy day and finally finished 
off. Those sown in the open during March should also have 
their tops bent over to hasten the ripening process, and the 
same with those sown later on, which are required for pickling 
purposes. These should be pulled and ripened as quickly as 
possible. Make another good sowing of winter varieties, such 
as Blood Bed Kocca, Lemon Rocca, White Emperor, and White 
Leviathan, first giving a good dressing of soot and wood ashes. 
E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Among the Orchids. 
Laelia crispa hybrids. —The numerous hybrid Laelias and 
Laeliocattleyas that have been produced from the influence of 
L. crispa, as one of the parents, form a most interesting and 
beautiful addition to the somewhat scarce autumn and late 
summer-flowering kinds, which help to provide the cycle oi 
flowering plants necessary to give a succession of bloom 
throughout the year in the Cattleya house. The majority of 
the plants are summer-growing kinds, and therefore are not 
difficult to cultivate in the ordinary Cattleya house conditions. 
These plants are greatly benefited by a liberal use of leaf soil 
in the potting compost. The best time to attend to any re¬ 
potting requirements is wdien the new roots first make their 
appearance at the base of the newly-developing growth, or 
immediately after the plants pass out of flower. The potting 
compost should bei pressed firmly about the roots and base 
of the plants, and the surface should be covered with a layer 
of chopped living sphagnum moss. The following varieties are 
worthy of attention : — 
L. Euterpe (L. crispa x L. dayana).—A miniature-growing 
plant, suitable for growing in shallow pans or baskets.^ so 
that it can be suspended near the roof glass. It flowers in Sep¬ 
tember or October. 
L. Olivia (crispdr x xanthina) is one of the most distinct. 
Its creamy-coloured segments are in striking contrast to the 
deep rose-tinted varieties of Cattleya in flower in November 
It does best in a pan or basket suspended near the roof glass. 
L. splendens (purpurata. x crispa).—One of the best of the 
section. It is remarkably like' Laeliocattleya exoniensis, pio- 
ducing several flowers on the scape, and flowers in September oi 
October. It does best in a pot, but requires considerable dis¬ 
cretion in treatment, or secondary growth is produced, vine i 
in the depth of winter, causes considerable anxiety to those m 
charge of the plants. 
Laeliocattleya amesiana (C. maxima and L. crispa) also con 
siderably resembles Lc. exoniensis. It flowers at the same 
season, and requires the same treatment. 
Lc. Bryan (gaskelliana x crispa) is one of the most desiiable 
of its section of hybrids. It. flowers in August and September. 
It has a most robust habit of growth, and flowers most tree y 
under the ordinary Cattleya house treatment. 
Lc. exoniensis. — One of the first of the hybrid Cattleya*. 
It has of late years become exceedingly scarce, and is con¬ 
sidered to be one of the most difficult plants to keep m a 
vigorous state. I have always found it do well, an consi 
it. 'requires more liberal treatment than the m AP n J 
Cattleya,s. It flowers in October and November. I here 
