February 13, 1904. 
THE QARDEN/Ha WORLD 
133 
not advisable to keep the moss alive. I always find it better to 
remove it, and replace with new when the time arrives for 
restarting into active growth. 
The white kinds, such a-s L. a. Dawsonii, L. a. Schroderae, 
L. a. sanderiana, L. a. alba, L. a. Stella, L. a. Williamsii, L. a. 
percivalliana, etc., have flowered, and are- still in flower with 
us in unusual quantities. Being much later than the typical 
varieties, they were not so far advanced with their flower- 
scapes during the latter part of October and November, at 
which period we had a liberal amount of bright light, and, con¬ 
sequently, we have flowers of good substance, although I have 
often had larger individual blooms. We keep our plants at 
the south end of the Cattleya. house, where they obtain the 
benefits of all the available light. While the flower-scapes are 
permitted to remain, the plants receive liberal treatment in 
respect to root moisture, but when the flowers have been cut we 
permit the material first to become thoroughly dry, and, choos¬ 
ing a favourable day, we remove the plants to a house where 
a temperature of 55 deg. is maintained. Liberal ventilation 
is given whenever the outside conditions permit. 
Wood lice often become troublesome where large specimens 
are grown in baskets, feeding upon the tender root growths as 
soon as they make their appearance, and quickly do a. deal c.f 
damage. I find a good plan for trapping these pests in hol- 
lowed-out Potatos. First cut in half, then scallop out the 
centre. In a few days the wood lice will feed, and form a 
temporary dwelling in the cavity. Here, by examining daily, 
the pests may be caught and destroyed. The period when the 
plants are being removed for resting is particularly favourable 
for trapping wood lice. H. J. 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Hydrangea hortensis. —There are several varieties of this 
species, notably Thomas Hogg, a pure white form. The great 
diversity in colour of the other varieties is, however, attri¬ 
buted to the kind of soil in which the plants are grown. Soils 
rich in minerals, especially iron, frequently produce cymes of 
bright blue flowers, whilst others give various shades of pink. 
There can be but little doubt that soils containing iron natur¬ 
ally will yield blue flowers, and it has been advanced by various 
writer’s that by mixing iron filings with soil deficient in the 
mineral will do likewise. I am unable to say if this has been 
conclusively proved. I invariably depend solely upon young 
plants, raised from cuttings inserted in August. These are 
taken from old plants standing in the open, as then the wood 
is half ripe—an important essential in striking them quickly. 
We retain the plants in the cutting pots for the winter. About 
this time they are shaken out and potted up singly in 3|-in. 
pots. The compost consists of equal parts loam, leaf-soil, and 
decomposed manure, with plenty of mortar rubble and sand 
added. The plants are then placed on shelves in a genial 
temperature of about 55 deg. or 60 deg. All side shoots 
should be rubbed off, thus concentrating the energy of the plant 
to one large head of blossom. When these commence to open, 
remove to a greenhouse or conservatory, where they remain in 
a fresh condition for several weeks. As the blossoms fade, cut 
them off, and start the plants into new growth, duly hardening 
them off for the production of cuttings in autumn. 
Gloxinias.—If not already done, seed should now be sown ; 
the resulting plants will flower late this summer, provided they 
are given good culture and receive no check. Where large 
numbers of these bright flowering plants are grown they 
should be brought on in batches to prolong the season of 
flowering. A batch of two-year-old tubers should be potted 
up at once for the earliest flowers. The remainder may be 
potted up and started at intervals of about three weeks. A 
suitable compost consists of equal parts fibrous peat and loam 
with half a. part each of leaf-soil and decomposed cow manure, 
adding plenty of sharp sand and nodules of charcoal to insure 
porosity. If the soil be used just moist, no w T ater need be 
given until growth commences, and then it should be applied 
luke-warm and with caution. Shelves near the roof glass 
of Cucumber pits or the stove will suit well for a start, and a 
humid atmosphere be maintained by light syringing®. As the 
leaves appear cease overhead syringing, but damp frequently 
between the pots. 
Lycopodiums. —Such useful and compact growing varieties 
a.s L. apoda, L. kraussiana, L. k. aurea, L. emiliana, L. caesia 
should be grown in quantity for furnishing purposes in the 
dwelling, and for the front edges of stages in glasshouses. 
Nearly fill 3-in. pots with light sandy soil, similar to that used 
for exotic Ferns, and dibble the rooted pieces into it. They 
will quickly become established if kept close and shaded in the 
propagating frame; they may then be transferred to the 
stages. 
General Propagating. —Proceed as time allows with the pro¬ 
pagation of all kinds of stove and greenhouse plants, as 
Crotons, Dracaenas, Acalyphas, Coleus, Abutilons, Fuchsias, 
etc. The sooner these are inserted the better plants they 
make by springtime, besides making room in the propagating 
pit for other batches before hot sunny weather prevails. The 
number of plants of each of the respective kinds required 
should be considered in order that the principal portion of them 
may be struck with as little delay as possible. K. M. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 
General Work. —Since the commencement of the present 
year there has been little improvement in the weather on that 
of the preceding one, and this has unfortunately delayed the 
work in this department. Every endeavour should therefore 
be made during any tine, open spells to bring the arrears for¬ 
ward, so that one may be prepared for the busy time which 
will soon be upon us. The lifting and replanting of deciduous 
trees and shrubs should be completed a.s soon as possible, at 
the same time taking care that no water lay in the holes in 
which they are to be placed, as this will be most detrimental 
if allowed to remain, especially when one has to deal with a 
heavy, retentive soil. 
Pruning —Now is an excellent time to perform this opera¬ 
tion with many subjects, if it has not already been done, both 
with evergreen and deciduous shrubs, as one is well able to 
see what wood can be shortened back, and also what branches 
can be taken out. with advantage. This applies to Lilacs, 
Deutzias, Philadelphus, Ribes, etc., and shrubs which have a 
tendency to throw up root suckers should also be carefully 
looked over, taking out these growths cleanly, as in many 
cases they are only the stock on which the shrubs are grafted. 
Evergreens, such as Privets, Hollies, Retinisporas, and Box, 
should be trimmed with the knife or shears. Roses, Clematis, 
and the like, growing on pillars, should have the old wood 
taken out, which it is advisable to remove, and the young 
growths should be pruned and tied in. When the above work 
is completed, one will then be able to fork over the surface of 
the shrubbery so that it presents a. neat appearance, and 
the keen winds which we may expect next month will have 
the desired effect of breaking up the lumps and rendering the 
soil suitable for seed-sowing or the planting of summer-flower¬ 
ing things in spring. It is an excellent plan, if one is able, to 
fork in some material, such as well-decayed leaf-mould or old 
rotten manure, which will prove very beneficial and stimulat¬ 
ing to' the shrubs, or a good top-dressing will also be of great 
service. Especially does this apply to old shrubberies which 
have been allowed to become poor. 
The Moutan or Tree Paeony. —This section of paeonies is, 
undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful and useful of all hardy 
shrubs, and whether planted in groups or dotted about as single 
specimens in the shrubbery the effects are most striking, f or¬ 
tunately, these shrubs are not very fastidious, as to the nature 
of the S'oil or the situation, but. if one wishes to. have the best 
results it is necessary to give the ground a. little attention 
before planting. If it is. of a. light, sandy nature, some good 
heavy loam should be added, and in any case a. liberal quantity 
of well-decayed cow manure should be thoroughly incor¬ 
porated. Paeonies are particularly fond of this, and, being 
gross feeders, plenty of liquid manure should also be giveu. 
