774 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 1. 1904. 
Among the Orchids. 
The Cattleya House.— The autumn flowering Cattleyas will 
no w be advancing their flower buds through their sheaths, and 
will need every encouragement to induce them to expand their 
flowers to the best advantage. So far, the present season 
has been one of the most desirable wet have had for some 
years; the bright sunny weather of the past month 'has been 
most favourable to the maturing of the summer-made growths 
of the Cattleya tribe, and the benefits derived thereby will be 
apparent when the flowers expand. Advantageous as have 
been the outside conditions, no opportunity must be lost, and 
whenever the opportunity affords full benefits of tbei sunlight 
should he secured. The roof blinds should now only be used 
during the warmest part of the day, and then only when there 
is a possibility of the foliage becoming scorched or injured. 
The plants that are advancing their flowers will he greatly 
benefited, as the texture of the flowers', as well as the colours, 
• are affected by tihei amount of light the plant's obtain up to , 
the time that the blossoms expand. After the flowers are 
open las® light will be necessary. It is only in the natural 
course of things that while the deepest tints of colour are ob¬ 
tainable from exposure to light before expanding, so will the 
colour as quickly bleach and fade if retained under thei ex¬ 
posed condition, iso that if it is desirable toi retain the flowers 
in good' condition iiti is desirable that they should be removed 
-to shadier positions. 
C. labia,ta, C. dowiani, and the natural hybrid C. hardyana 
are among the most desirable of the latei autumn-flowering 
kinds. The garden - raised hybrids have been very consider¬ 
ably added to during the past few years. At one time the 
group of which Laeliocattleya exonieusis may be taken as 
a type was practically all we bad to depend on for flowering 
at the late season. Tta enumerate the whole of this olasis at 
the present timei would he out of the bounds permitted for 
the weekly Orchid notes. I will take them therefore in, their 
different, classes, as, it may be a useful guide to those desirous 
of securing varieties for winter-flowering purposes. If not 
the first, ai prominent place must he given to thei whole section 
of the hybrids that have been obtained from the influence of 
Cattleya bowringiana a,s one of the parents. There are 
numerous crosses, but all have good constitutions and freer 
flowering characteristic®. Being plentiful in many cases, 
they are procurable for a, modest outlay. 
The hybrids derived from C. bicolor produce desirable effect 
and are most useful additions. C. Maronii, C. Lord Roth¬ 
schild, C. cbamberlainiama,, C. Faibial, C. F. W. Wigan, C. Ger¬ 
mania, Laeliocatitleya Ingramii, Lc. dominiana,, Lof Pa’ll,as. and 
practically all the hybrids derived from, C. dowiana’s- influence 
should have every consideration; they in most leases possess 
good constitution®, and are among the most useful for late 
work. 
Hie hybrids that 'have been obtained from, 'the crossing of 
Laelia, Perrinii, although not so large - flowered us the last men¬ 
tioned section, are a, useful class, and are procurable for a, 
modest outlay. The C. granulosa section, and those derived 
from the influence of C. Leopoldii, make attractive flower® for 
grouping purposes and for effect: amongst ichit flowers,. The 
whole of thei hybrids can, be cultivated under the present re¬ 
cognised -system of culture with hut little difficulty, add they 
rarely fail to yield a satisfactory return for the trouble ex¬ 
pended on them. tt t 
Readers’ Competition.— Particulars of weekly prize see 
centre page. * 
Hardy Fruit. 
Peach Trees. —With the exception of Golden Eagle or 
Salway, all varieties will have been gathered by now, when 
the respective trees may have the same treatment meted out 
to them in thei matter of thinning out, superfluous wood as 
previously advised for early fruiting varieties. Give the trees 
a, good washing with the garden engine towards 4 p.m., and, 
unless red spider isi prevalent, I see no, cause' to, continue the 
syringing or washing-, as 1 is often advocated—the night dews 
now greatly benefit, thei foliage after a, bright day—but do not 
neglect root! waterings, .as the trees have much to do yet in 
plumping their buds for another season's crop. Mark any that 
require root pruning, or it may be entire transplanting in the 
case of young trees, which isi the best practice toi get them to 
a fruitful states 
Plums. —These have been abundant this summer, but the 
supply is getting done by this, although among dessert varied- 
ties Goiei’si Golden Drop, Late Orange, and Reine Claude de 
Bavay will keep in good condition, for some time, especially 
the Golden Drop, if when ready to gather they are placed 
in a cool, 'day room. Somei even wrap them in tissue 
paper and put them into drawers, but each fruit must be clean 
and free of blemish,, or they would soon decay. Monarch has 
again proved one of thei most reliable croppers among kitchen 
Plums, and so has Diamond, a,s well as Belle de* Septembre, 
some of the latter still hanging. Tihe Egg Plum (White 
Magnum Bonum), too, is a sure cropper, and the fruit when 
thoroughly ripe may be used for dessert, as well as Monarch. 
Apples. — The bulk of these may be gathered within the 
next fortnight. The varieties Scarlet Nonpareil, Lord Bur¬ 
leigh, Stunner Pippin, and Adam’s Peiarmain may require a, 
little longer in colder districts', but in exposed positions where 
■the wind catches them they are liable to get blown off with 
the gales we sometimes experience during the present month. 
Needless tie say, let all fruit be thoroughly dry before gather¬ 
ing, and label each variety aisi they are stored. 
Pears. —Continuei to harvest the varieties as they become 
fit, allowing such late sorts as Beurre Ranee, President Bara,be, 
Olivier de Serres,, Passe Cras'sanei, Josephine de Malines, and a 
few others to hang as long a® possible', ais> if gathered before they 
arei quite fit, they are liable to shrivel. Doi not let many days 
elapse without examining those that come into us© during tiie 
next few weeks, as they quickly go wrong, especially Beurre 
d’Amanlis, 11 css el, Beurre Boussoch, Williams’ Bon Cretien, 
and Fondant© d’Automne. Stewing Pears: will hang a bit, 
longer yet. 
Figs.— These havei proved a, heavy crop down west, and 
the frequent rains have been all in favour of swelling up the 
fruit, Brown Turkey doing admirably, and 'Still one of the 
very best for outdoor cultivation. After the fruits are all 
gathered, wash the trees with the garden engine, and as the 
foliage appears free of insects no further attention will be 
requisite for some little time yet. Expose the trees if covered 
with netting, but, with wire netting permanently fixed the 
case is different, as this should be of large mesh, which will 
admit both sunshine and air necessary to ripen up an other¬ 
wise sappy wood. 
Filberts and Gob' Nuts must be got, in under cover if not 
already seen toe These, too,, arei a full crop, down this way. 
Directions as to harvesting, etc., were given in my calendar for 
September 17th. 
Raspberries .—Take every care of these autumn - fruiting 
varietieisi now Plums are about done, as they prove most useful 
for tarts, which will be a change from Apples. The summer- 
fruiting kinds havei made excellent canes this season, and 
should any neglect have been made in not cutting away the 
exhausted canes, lose no time in carrying out' this necessary 
work, a® such weather as we are 'having a;t the time of writing 
these lines, is just what is required to ripen up the young 
growths for next year’s fruiting, and it is to, be hoped it, will 
continue well into' October month, 
Breton, Devonshire, Jameis Matne. 
