May 14, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
3 J 7 
idvise if they were to onee prove or see its superiority clearly 
lemonstraied. 
Asters.—The ericoides and Yimineus section of these, which 
ire now making headway, should have the points cf the shoots 
nched out,, so that they will break freely and make a bushy 
•owth. It, is also advisable to thin out the growths of these 
,ctions when the plants, become large, which will improve the 
lower in n ’ qualities. The surface soil should be kept stirred, 
md a, little dusting of a reliable artificial manure will prove 
;ery beneficial. 
Penstemons.—These should be staked as soon as they need 
supporting, and one stick will be found sufficient, which should 
re strong but, not thick. Hazels aie excellent. 
Cardamitie pratensis fl. pleno. —It, is surprising when one 
sees how common the single Cardamine is that the double form 
s'not more largely grown. The single variety is a British 
slant, but. ah this season it may certainly be called beautiful. 
The double one is also a, British wild plant.— Ed.] In Messrs, 
kitbudi’s exhibit at the last Drill Hall meeting the cultivated 
■ or m was well shown, and for a. moist spot or in a shady part of 
he border is an excellent plant. It greatly resembles the 
double Rocket in appearance, except that it is slightly smaller 
in every part,, and pale lilac in colour. It is of easy culture 1 , 
and is capable of being used with marked effect if grouped. 
For cutting purposes, it should also prove of value. Corydalis 
nobilis was also shown by this firm, .and it is quite one of the 
most beautiful of the family. Grown under precisely the same 
conditions as the Cardamine, it will succeed well, or in a, shady, 
moist place in the rockery it would be a.t home. The flowers 
are very showy, being produced thickly together in a head, 
colour yellow, with a brown lip, and the foliage is. also orna¬ 
mental. This plant might, deservedly find a place in many 
collections. ' ‘ A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldenha.m House Gardens, Elstree. 
Among the Orchids. 
Evergreen Dendrobiums. —The desirable section of which D. 
lyrsifloruni and D. densifloruni, D. suavissimum, and D. 
armorii are typical kinds will in most cases have passed out of 
ewer. They should be examined for the annual repotting ie- 
uirements. The prolonged period of rest, during which water 
j almost entirely withheld, causes the moss on the surface^ 
a die, and this usually needs replenishing immediately after 
be flowering season is passed. I would not advise lepotting 
nless the plants have outgrown their pots, or the compost has 
ecome decomposed to such an extent as to render it unsuit- 
ble to the roots of the plants. It, isi ample to remove’ any 
ead or decayed matter on the surface, and replace with fresh- 
rowing sphagnum. Avoid too 1 much material about, the base 
f the plant, and press the compost, firm. 
The plants should be removed as soon as repotting is com¬ 
peted to the hot, moist conditions, of the stove or hottest, house. 
P'hey should be placed in a position where they may obtain 
ilenty of strong light, only shading when the sun is sufficiently 
itrang to scorch the leaves. We grow ours under a particu- 
arly light, open meshed netting, which renders just sufficient, 
.creen to prevent, scorching, and interferes but, little with the 
emperature obtainable within the house from the aid of the 
un’s rays. I find it beneficial when a,11 the Dendrobe® are in 
ictive growth to provide a highly humid state' of the atmo¬ 
sphere whenever the outside conditions aid its rapid evapo¬ 
ration. If the house is closed, and the plants freely syringed 
iverhead about two o’clock in the afternoon, the high tempera- 
sure which is soi essential to, the cultivation of this class of 
slants is easily procurable in bright, weather, and the use of 
irtificial heat is thereby diminished to a great extent. There 
s considerably more damage caused by excessive fire-heat to, 
lie constitution of the plants than many imagine, and every 
mdeavour should be made to diminish it to the utmost extent, 
mly bringing it into use when the temperature' falls to the 
rormal night requirements, say 65 deg. 
Insect Pests. —In all the divisions a sharp look-out will be 
necessary to protect the plants from attacks of insect, pests. 
Tliripsi are, perhaps,, the most, troublesome. Where they are 
allowed to become established on such species asi the Cypripe- 
diums, it take a long time to get them dislodged. It is there¬ 
fore desirable to fumigate the plants at, regular intervals of 
once a fortnight, and where they are bad it is desirable that 
the plants should be plunged overhead in some suitable insec¬ 
ticide, dipping as low down as the surface of the potting com¬ 
post permits a,t, least once a. week until satisfied the plants 
are, free, after which at intervals of once a. month ; or syringing 
overhead once a week will usually keep them in check. Cock¬ 
roaches are also troublesome on the new roots and young 
growths of the plants. A poison for their destruction should 
be placed about the steps and close to their haunts at suitable 
intervals. Hollo,wed-out. Potato® are also excellent traps at 
nio-ht. for both cockroaches and woodlice. H. J. 
The Flower Garden. 
A charming spring-flowering plant is Primula officinalis, the 
common Cowslip. Seedlings may be raised in the same way 
as recommended for Polyanthus. In autumn the young plants 
may be moved to' their flowering quarters in beds or borders 
or in the grass. Primula officinalis might be successfully asso¬ 
ciated with Tulip Du'chesse de Panne or any other variety of a 
bronzy-yellow colour. 
Primula ja.ponica is another species of great merit, for spring 
flowering. The flower stems grow from a foot to, 18 in. high, 
bearing tiers of pink or rose-coloured flowers. The plants will 
'bear lifting after flowering, and may be grown on in reserve 
quarters for another season. Primula japonica, may be pro¬ 
pagated by division or by seeds, though, the latter are' some¬ 
times slow to germinate. Primula, denticulata, flowers some 
weeks earlier than either of the above. The flowers are borne 
in clusters on stalks 8 in. to 12 in. high, and are lilac-coloured. 
There are several varieties of Primula, denticulata, varying in 
colour from white to dark lilac. This species and its varieties 
may be increased by division after flowering, and also by seeds 
sown in a cold frame in spring. 
The double form of Arabis albida, is an excellent subject for 
the flower garden, flowering profusely and continuously over 
a considerable period. The' plant, grows vigorously, and cut¬ 
tings taken now root, freely in a, cold frame. When routed 
they may be transferred outside, and will make good plants 
for bedding cut, in autumn. 
Seeds may be sown now of many spring-flowering plants 
required for next season — viz., Wallflowers, Myosotis, 
Aubrietias, Canterbury Bells, Hesperis matronalis, Alyssum 
saxatile, etc. Tires may all be sown, out of doors, and pricked 
out when large enough. 
Pentstemons, Antirrhinums, and Stocks may now be planted 
cut, as these plants do- much better when given every chance 
to make growth in the early part of the year. The stock cf 
most plants required for summer bedding will now be in band, 
and hardening off will be the general rule. Many of. the 
^hardier kinds may be stood close to the wall of a warm house, 
or other similar position, where sheets cf tiffany can be 
readily thrown over them should frost threaten. 
J B. Mb J. 
Mr. Moses Pascoe, who for the past 11 years has been head 
gardener at Ashfield, Falmouth, left, on the 28th ult. for Canada, 
and before his departure was presented with a handsome port¬ 
manteau by a few of his friends. 
Fatal Accident to a Market Gardener.— A Chester market 
gardener named Augustine Buxton, living at Tarwin Bridge, 
tost outside the city boundary, Liverpool, met. with a sad death 
on the 28th ult. In the absence of one of his employees he took 
a cartload of produce intended for Birkenhead market. At 
Backford, however, when (it is surmised) he was adjusting the 
brake of the vehicle, he by some means fell or was knocked down, 
and the cart passed over him, causing almost immediate death. 
