46 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 16, 1904. 
Work for the Coming Fortnight. 
Fruit Under Glass. 
Early Peaches. —Structures closed about the middle of 
November will soon be in flower, rather the trees, when a 
drier atmosphere must be maintained, and though overhead 
syringing must for a. time be discontinued, the stems of the 
trees, borders, walks, etc., should be damped once or more 
daily, the weather guiding one to a great extent in this matter, 
as during wet or dull days a, light sprinkling will suffice, this 
taking place about, 9 a.m. As the flowers expand, they should 
be gone over daily about mid-day with a camel-hair brush, 
lightly touching each flower, with the view of distributing the 
pollen, keeping a gentle warmth in the hot-water pipes ; day 
temperature of 60 deg., 5 deg. higher with sun heat, with a 
chink of top* ventilation, receding to 55 deg., or even 50 deg. 
in severe weather, will be favourable to the trees while in 
blossom. Test the borders, and if getting dry apply water 
wanned to a temperature of 75 deg. Like remarks apply to 
pot trees, where these supply ripe fruit in April or early in the 
month of May, guarding against the least semblance to dryness 
at the root, or success will not be achieved. 
A succession house should now be closed, lightly syringing 
the trees once or twice daily, and see that the 'borders are right 
for moisture. Do not hurry the trees into flower; very little 
fire heat will be 1 necessary to 1 keep the house up to 45 deg. 
during the night, for the first, few weeks, admitting a little 
ventilation when the sun raises the temperature to 60 deg., 
which it is to be hoped we shall see a little more of now the 
days are on the eve of lengthening. Complete, the pruning, 
cleansing, and training of the trees in, lata houses, not, omitting 
the annual washing down of the woodwork and glass before put¬ 
ting the trees and borders in. order, details of which have re¬ 
cently appeared in former calendars. 
Pines. —This is a, good date to start a batch of Queens, which 
should ripen towards the end of June, selecting well-rooted 
plants that have had a good period of rest as formerly advised. 
The most sturdy and promising plants should be, chosen for 
this ,early work, removing a, leaf or two from the bottom if 
neeeissary, so, that a surfacing of turfy loam can he placed 
around the collars after the loose soil has been taken off. Make 
the new soil quite firm with a rammer, and afford the plants a 
couple of waterings to thoroughly moisten the ball of dry soil. 
In the meantime the fruiting-house or pit should be thoroughly 
washed down with warm, soapy water, and the wall lime- 
washed with fresh slaked lime, and the bot-wa.ter pipes are the 
better for a, coat of lamp-black and linseed oil every few years. 
Respecting the bottom heat,, much depends upon the material 
used, and whether hob-water pipes run along the bottom of the 
pit, which they should do, and where this is the case fresh fallen 
leaves from the Oak, Beech, or Sweet Chestnut are suitable, as 
is also tan ; but whichever is used, mix part, of the old material 
with it after discarding the finer parts of it. Plunge the pots 
level and to the rims, examining the test stick after a, few days, 
and if found too hot, pull away part of it for a, time, 80 deg. to 
85 deg. doing no harm. The plants should not be less than 
2 ft. apart. A night temperature of 65 deg. will suffice for 
the present, advancing 10 deg. or 15 deg. with sun heat, when 
moisten paths, walls, and bed mornings and again, early after¬ 
noons. Succession plants should not be allowed to get too 
dry at the root. 
Melons. —Where a, night temperature of 65 deg. can, he main¬ 
tained, a few seeds may he sown, for an early crop, placing 
two seeds in 2^-in. pots, tilled with equal parts loam and leaf 
soil, made fairly firm before placing the seeds thereon, which 
should he perpendicular; then the seeds are not so liable to 
decay. Avoid any water until the little plants are through 
the soil, and the pots should be given a little bottom heat to 
hasten germination, and as: soon as through the soil stand them 
within a foot of the glass roof, cutting out the weaker seedling 
in good time, and placing a. small stake to each, plant. The 
cleansing of the structure in readiness for the plants should be 
proceeded with, so that no delay is caused when once the plants 
are ready to be placed in their fruiting quarters. Hero of 
Locking©, Sutton’s Scarlet, and Syon House are good varieties 
for early work. James Mayne. 
Bieton, Devonshire. 
Among the Orchids. 
Hybrid Phaius. —The now somewhat numerous hybrid 
Phaius that have been derived 1 from the influence of P. tuber- 
culosus as one of its parents will have practically brought their 
growth to maturity, and will soon be showing their flower 
scapes where they are nob already doing so. These plants are 
apt to break away into growth if too, liberally treated at this 
season. Where both growth and flower scapes are being pro¬ 
duced at the same time, the one has a tendency to weaken the 
other, and in, the end neither proves satisfactory. It is best, 
therefore, if possible', to lower the temperature in the house, 
or to place the plants under slightly cooler conditions, where 
but little root moisture will be required. This will afford the 
necessary resit, which wall enable' the flower spike to take suffi¬ 
cient nourishment from the bulb in the slight progress made 
that will retard greatly the possibility of the plants producing 
new growths. Give the plants as much light as possible, as 
the quality of the flowers hereafter produced will depend 
greatly on the proper ripening of the growths, as well as the 
conditions prevailing at the time the' flowers expand. This 
class of Orchids has become annually more appreciated, and 
there will no doubt be a, greater demand for them still in the 
near future. They belong to a class especially acceptable for 
general cultivation. 
For decorative purposes, either as cut flowers or by using 
the plants when in bloom for conservatory or house decorations, 
they are exceedingly useful, especially the varied kinds that 
make up the P. Norman and P. Oooksonii sections. We have 
had plants of the latter in large specimens used in the drawing¬ 
room for a period of four to six weeks during the past year. 
The rest thus afforded seems to suit the plants admirably, for 
they start away into' growth with renewed vigour as soon as 
they are again returned to their growing quarters. This sec¬ 
tion is best attended to for repotting requirements as soon as 
the flower scapes have been removed. I will therefore refer 
to the repotting requirements in due course. 
I lie Humblotii ’ section—that is to say, those hybrids that 
have been derived from the influence of P. Humblotii as one of 
the parents'—are not so well known as the above-mentioned 
hybrids. Tastes differ, but in, my opinion, when this section 
becomes as familiar and as easily procurable as the “ tubercu- 
losus hybrids, they will obtain the preference. They have 
better constitutions.; they grow under cooler treatments, and, 
holding their scapes well above their robust and stately foliage, 
they display their flower scapes to much better advantage. 
The later introductions, such as P. Phoebe, P. oakwoodiensis, 
P. Ruby, and P. Chapmanii, altogether outclass the early 
hybrids of this section, and to my mind are far more attractive 
than most of the “ tuberculosus ” hybrids, beautiful as they 
are. . As it is likely to be some time yet before these latter 
hybrids will he procurable, we shall have to content ourselves 
with the kinds we can get, thereby creating a. taste that the 
future supply may be all the more acceptable. These do' ‘best in 
an intermediate temperature throughout the year. Flowering 
at least a month or six weeks later than the other section of 
hybrids, they are at the present season in full growth, and 
lequire the liberal treatment necessary to enable them to 
properly mature their growths. A sharp look-out is, now neces¬ 
sary where an unusual amount of artificial heat isi used owing 
fo> the unfavourable conditions outside. Red spider soon 
make their appearance and play havoc with the foliage if left 
undisturbed for only a; few days. Carefully sponge the foliage 
at the first indication of their presence—the most satisfactory 
way to keep these pests in check. H. J. 
