682 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
August 27. 1904. 
at the driest end of the cool Orchid house or' in a cool .inter¬ 
mediate temperature, and I find in the north of England it can 
only be satisfactorily grown, in the: Cattleya house. In each 
case I have found small baskets or shallow pans to be the 
best in which to grow the plants, so, that they may be suspended 
near the roof glass, the compost consisting of equal parts ot 
fibrous peat, sphagnum moss and leaf-soil, with some roug i 
silver-sand added, pressed moderately firm about the roots. 
They require ample root moisture, during the, active growing 
season, and they must not be permitted to become shrivelled 
from want of moisture while at rest. 11 * J * 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Onions. _Generally speaking, the Onion crop is a particu¬ 
larly good one, this season, especially so with those raised 
under glass in, early spring and planted out in due course. 
Even, though it may not be tliei ambition of everyone to pro¬ 
duce large exhibition bulbs, this system, of cultivation hasi so 
much toTrecommend it over the ordinary practice of sowing 
seed in, the open that it is surprising to me it is not more 
universally adopted, as by so, doing these seldom suffer to any 
extent from the ravages of the Onion Fly, tliei bulbs mature 
and ripen, earlier*, consequently their keeping properties, are 
much better assured. It is not at all necessary toi produce 
Onions, for ordinary use to go 1 to the trouble and expense of 
pricking* out the young plants, for if sown thinly and raised 
early in, a veiy gentle heat, these, if properly hardened, may 
■be pricked straight, away from -I in,, to, 6 in,, apart, and 10 in,, 
between the rows in early April, and any weather we are likely 
to get, after that date will not injure them. I have dwelt some,- 
what lengthily on this, as: during the past, few' year® T have, 
without doubt, proved its value, especially so during* the preh 
gieint one. A large bed sown 1 in, the open during the first, week 
in March was very badly attacked, and to a. great extent spoiled 
with the maggot' Fortunately, I had had planted out, a large 
quantity of various isorts from the seed boxes, which were 
allowed a distance of 4-in. between the plants, and are now 
ripening a, splendid crop of medium-sized bulbs, and quite un¬ 
affected by the fly, and I may mention, these, were in closie 
proximity to, the others. Immediately the growth is prac¬ 
tically completed, carefully lift, and harvest, them, turning over 
every other day or so, and in, case, of a. continuation of wet, 
days endeavour to get them under cover, if possible, ini cool 
green or fruit-houses, or indeed cold frames: or any other glass 
structure. Extreme care should always be? exercised to- handle 
them gently ; especially does this apply to, the, larger bulbs; 
otherwise they are certain to decay prematurely. 
Winter Onions — The main sowing of these should at once 
be got in on well-prepared ground, which should be worked 
down to, a fine tilth. Give a, thorough dressing of wood ashes 
and soot, make very firm, and sow in shallow drills 10 in. apart. 
Carter’s: White Emperor is the best, early white-skinned variety 
that I know. It is, no, doubt, a selection from White Naples, 
but is: quite distinct and not so badly addicted to running to 
seed. Sutton’s Whit® Leviathan is likewise a very fine Onion, 
but not so early as that first named. A good type of Lemon 
Rocea should he grown to succeed these, being very handsome 
and one of the best to keep. Ailsa Craig is also to be re¬ 
commended for sowing at this season. 
Cabbage, — A piece of ground should at once, be prepared, 
and, if possible, on a south border, for the earliest planting of 
these. A small, early type should be selected, none being 
better than Ella.m’s Early. Plant firmly a,t a distance of 1 ft. 
apart, and from 18 in. to, 2 ft, between the rows. This early 
planting often, proves of great value in early spring, when 
vegetables generally are none too plentiful. Plant one more 
good breadth of Golewort® on, deeply dug and well manured 
ground, and keep the surface soil constantly stirred between 
the earlier plantings. 
Spinach. — As I have before pointed out, frequent sowings at 
intervals, of about ten days should be practised through August, 
September and October to, ensure an uninterrupted supply all 
through the winter and spring; even then, during some 
seasons, it taxes onei to be always able to produce it, but as 
with many other crops thei season does much to: control this, 
and no definite times can, be stated with safety; but in tins 
locality, twelve, miles north of London, the last week in the 
present month and the first fortnight in September generally 
produce the best, results; but ini some years seed put in during 
October has stood, w r ell and given grand crops in spring. 
Herbs. — Basil, Knotted Marjoram, etc., should be pulled, 
and perennial varieties, such a,s Mint., Sage, and the like 
should he out,, carefully dried, tied up, in small bunches, and 
hung, up, in a dry, airy place for winter use. 
Gourds and Pumnkins should have their growths, stopped, 
thinned, and their fruit well exposed to the sun and influence 
of the weather, whjch alone: brings out, that beautiful colouring 
so essential in these orn,a,mental fruits. E. Beckett. 
A bleu,ham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Corydalis thalictrifolia. 
This fine flower was introduced a year or two, ago by Messrs. 
J. Ye,itch and Sons, from Ichang, in Central China. Not, the 
newness, however, of such a beautiful rock plant, but its per¬ 
petual flowering nature and pretty little yellow flowers, borne 
in racemes,, are the, attractive features of this species, of a, decid¬ 
edly charming genus:. Each flower is from to, 1 inch in length, 
and the trusses' from, 5 to 6 inches long. The foliage, as the 
specific name indicates, is similar to the Thalietrum, purple 
tinted, and interspersed among the flower racemes, though 
scarcely rising above the basal flowers of each. 
In warmer parts of the country it may be, placed in the 
open, when it will flower all through the summer. Such, I 
believe, it does in Ivew Gardens. As a pot plant it, is most 
appropriate, and under good treatment seems to flower in the, 
greenhouse the whole, year round. Scarcely attaining more than 
l,Jft. in height, its size makes it all tire more requisite as an 
adjunct to, collections where house, room, is restricted. 
Seeds 1 are slow to germinate, and moss covering the soil, 
caused by unnecessary dampness,, is ruinous to fertility. 
The soil should therefore be rinsed in boiling water, and 
allowed to, become moderately dry, before being placed in 6in. 
pots,, which size is the best, for the purpose of sowing. Sowing 
should take place in a warm atmosphere. The compost ’into 
which they will afterwards be, pricked off may undergo the 
same process, a,s even, at that stage they are far from beino- out, 
of danger. - & 
As body of the potting soil loam and joe,at, are preferred ; a 
sprinkling of manure (including ground bones) is a consistent 
stimulus when, placing in, 6in. pots, the most suitable size for 
flowering. 
Corydalis thalictrifolia, is easily soured by overwatering “ in 
■the days of its youth.” At any period of its, progress, indeed, 
the appliance over-freely of the waterpot is, not conducive to 
competent culture,; the result, too, is often destined to be not 
merely the temporary diseolourment of the leaves, but in¬ 
corrigible disaster to the plant bodily. 
The safety, therefore, of preserving a porous and well-drained 
soil, is at once apparent. Keeping the plant moderately diy 
induces the production of flowers, rather than, folia, 2 *e ; particu- 
larly in dull weather is it beneficial in aiding the preservation 
of the flowers ; which have a tendency to, fall off too soon. 
Abundance of light and air are two principal elements in the 
necessities of its life. James P. Dickson. 
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