71$ 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
September 10. 1904. 
be done between 8 a,.in. an;d 3 pan., more or 1 less, according to 
the weather, and, though not so much water is required at the 
root of vines whose Grapes ar e ripe, sufficient must be supplied 
to keep the berries plump, and the bunches should be. exam¬ 
ined every few days, as a, decaying berry soon affects adjoining 
one®, and" a whole bunch is gone, or the appearance spoilt, be¬ 
fore one is aware of the fact. 
Late Hamburghs. —Give these abundance of air and plenty 
of root waterings to swell up the berries, and keep' a gentle 
warmth in the hot-water pipes, with a chink of ventilation 
during the night top 1 and bottom. If the Grapes are ripe, the 
laterals need to be kept in subjection, and the damping down, 
watering, etc., is the same as for Muscats, although the berries 
are notoso liable to decay with a little extra moisture. A 
niffiit temperature of 60 deg. will be suitable for both houses. 
Latest Grapes.—These ought to be well on the way as re¬ 
gards finish of berry, as, if not ripe by the end of the month, 
they are not able to withstand the variableness of the weather 
usually experienced during the la-st three months of the year. 
Ventilate early, and reduce the same towards 4 P'.m„ on bright 
days, damping the borders, also surroundings, twice during 
the twenty-four hours, leaving ai chink of air front and back 
through the night. See that the border's: are kept uniformly 
moist and sub-laterals pinched betimes. A day temperature of 
about 80 deg., with sun'-heat dropping to 63 deg. or 65 deg. by 
the morning, will be suitable figures: for 1 the present. Outside 
border’s will have had abundance of moisture' during thei past 
month in most places, and, should the showery weather con¬ 
tinue, it. may be necessary to cover them with lights or wooden 
shutters' to carry off heavy rains in low-lying districts,, but iit 
is to be hoped dry warm weather will be thei order during the 
present month. 
Melons. — The latest batch ought to be set by now, and 
every encouragement afforded them to perfect' their crop 
within the next six weeks by closing with sun-heat soon after 
2 •p.m, lightly syringing the plants overhead, avoiding much 
water running down to the base; neither should water be 
given too near the stem at this date. Frame Melons have 
done well this season, but any late crop: will require judgment 
and careful management.to .bring them to perfection, now in 
such structures. James Mayne. 
Among the Orchids. 
Dendrobiums.- —The deciduous section of Dendr'obiums 
should now be carefully looked over. The earlier one® will 
have practically completed the season’s growth, and all plants 
which have developed the terminal leaf should be: placed a,t one 
side of the house, or in. some position together, so that they 
may be treat ed in such .a manner as to aid them in the proper 
ripening of their bulb®. I have previously pointed out in, the 
columns of TAe Gardening World the desirability, of afford- 
ino- ample light throughout the whole growing season of Den- 
drobiums. The advantage of this is apparent in the: more re¬ 
fined growth thus procured than Isi the case where shading is 
extensively used, and not nearly the amount of maturing will 
be necessary now that the end of thei growing season has been 
reached. Ample light is still necessary, but, not nearly so 
much root-moisturei isi requiredon no. account must the 
pseudo-bulb®, young or old, be permitted to become! shrivelled 
from want of water. A keen observation is necessary to keep 
the plants in a desired state, and prevent as far asi possible 
secondary growths making their appearance. With leissi mois¬ 
ture insect peats often become troublesome. Thrip and red 
spider must" be held in, check by regular fumigation and 
sponging the leaves. Any plants in a backward state of 
growth should be placed under the most favourable condition's 
. to enable that to mature their growth by the end of the 
present month, or difficulties: may possibly arise with un- 
ripened wood during the winter months. 
The Cattleya House. —Many of the summer and spring 
flowering varieties, both of species and hybrids:, are reaching 
maturity with their growth. Where leaf soil is used, which 
is now becoming pretty general in the cultivation of Cattleyas, 
the plants stand a: great deal more light ; in fact, the more 
robust growths: require a considerable: amount more strong 
light to: ripen their 1 growth, and thei plants will bear it with¬ 
out the yellow'and unsightly tints that were so frequent where 
excessive light was: applied under the orthodox system of 
Orchid culture. More ventilation, may also, be afforded, and 
whenever the outside conditions, permit, free use of the lower 
ventilators should be resorted to, during the present month. 
Plants in a backward state should bei given the most favour¬ 
able positions, and every encouragement is necessary to enable 
them to properly develop 1 the maturing growth. Plants that 
arei matured should have as: little root moisture: asi possible, and 
every precaution must be taken, to prevent them from re¬ 
starting into: growth. Care: should also, be taken to see that 
the water used for watering purposes should be at, least, equal 
to .the mean temperature of the house in, which the plants 
have grown. Heavy rains often cause a, largei decrease in the 
temperature of the: waiter in the tanks, for several days, and I 
think- it advisable to use the water a, degree -or two wanner 
rather than below the temperature of the: different houses, 
especially for 1 plants that are dipped when root moisture is 
applied. __ H. J. 
Achillea Ptarmica The Pearl. 
The Achideas constitute a large gehusi, commonly known 
as the Yarrow or Milfoil, the species: A. Millefolium, however, 
being more particularly familiar under 1 the latter name. A. 
Ptarmica is also known as the Sneezerwort; the: variety The 
Pearl, to which this article is devoted, is indeed a, decided 
acquisition. 
The flowers are considerably larger and of a purer white 
than the variety flore pleno, a double also of no, small repute. 
Close inspection reveals no uncleanness in the flowers, in¬ 
dividually ; and whether as 1 a, “ buncher ” for.decoration or the 
exhibition stand, or as a supplement merely to the herbaceous 
border, the same marked pure whiteness is: always apparent. 
It is singularly impressive, too, at a distance. 
The particular climate of any division of this, country seems 
a matter of indifference to the welfare of the subject. In, good 
soil it. is a, rampant grower; the roots, which appear vigorous, 
require a good supply of nourishment. To prevent starvation, 
the plants should be lifted every two, or three years at the most, 
and replanted either in the, same locality after it has been 
manured and dug, or in a fresh position. The, latter is un¬ 
doubtedly the better plan. 
The most, suitable time to plant is in the early spring, imme¬ 
diately after the commencement of root action, as during 
the renovation of other herbaceous subjects, care must be 
taken that the roots are not, exposed too 1 much to the.frost 
while transplanting. Thei number of plants can be multiplied 
by subdivision. 
Our plants here grow remarkably well in a border which 
contains a high percentage of clay. 
The duration of the flowering period is probably its greatest 
■merit, lasting as it does from June to, September. Achillea 
The Pearl lasts: for a considerable time when cut and placed 
in water in the drawing-room. 
It may also be used with effect for table decoration. Owing 
to the “ heads ” of flowers of Achillea, Ptarmica being somewhat 
close, though much more free than the other T arrows, they 
should be out with long stems, in order to make a, graceful or 
elegant display. James P. Dickson. 
Oil Engines eor Watering Orchards. —Petroleum engines for 
pumping water from wells for the purpose of watering the Orange 
wardens of Jaffa have been greatly used during the last three 
years Their introduction into the country is due to the Germans, 
who sold about eighty of them. The British market followed, 
and sold about the same number up to the end of last year. 
