October 8, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
7 
Melons. —The latest crops ought to be ripened during the 
next two or three weeks while the siun has power, or the flavour 
will be poor compared to. summer fruit. Avoid giving more 
water at the root than is absolutely necessary to maintain the 
plant and fruit ini a healthy condition; too free a. use of 
manures at this date is not required, neither must the syringe 
be plied too. heavily, a light dewing overhead on bright, days 
at closing time sufficing now. Admit air cautiously during the 
night, just a chink being sufficient after affording full ventilar 
tion in the daytime, and keep the base of the stem as dry as 
possible, as Melon plants quickly succumb to the dreaded 
disease canker, during autumn especially. Generally, a little 
powdered lime dusted near the. base acts as a deterrent. Cut. 
the fruits when ripe, and place in a dry, ventilated room ; here 
they will keep, plump, for two> or three weeks, and lose. but. little 
flavour if cut from healthy plants. Jambs Matne. 
Bicton, Devonshire. 
Among the Orchids. 
Sobralias.— The various species of Sobralia are not so ex¬ 
tensively cultivated as their merits deserve. I have no doubt, 
but that the cause rests on the fact that they cannot be con¬ 
sidered as useful subjects for cut-flower purposes, owing to 
the short period that the blooms remain in. perfection after 
they havei expanded ; two or three days at the most and often 
twenty-four hours is the extent of their lasting qualities when 
left on the plants, hut. it should also be considered that a. suc¬ 
cession of two and often more flowers, are produced from the 
same stem, and therefore, by selecting the more durable kinds 
to cultivate, some little advantage, at least, is gained ; and in 
the case of large specimen plants, they generally supply a 
succession of bloom for a. considerable period, and they are 
thus subjects of interest during the flowering season. 
Still further claim may be noted in the fact that. it. has a 
possible future before it, because it has n.ot 'been extensively 
used for hybridisation purposes, especially in the raising of 
bi'i'cneric crosses. It is not, I am well aware, the easiest, 
subject to crossdertilise, but that it will produce fertile seed I 
have the best possible proof in having seedlings in different 
stages of growth, although it took many years of perseverance 
before it became an established fact, and I had almost given 
up hope of ever seeing any reward for the efforts made. It 
will be found that almost any of the tribe Epidendreae, which 
include the Cat t ley as and Lacka-s, will intercross with the 
various species of Sobralia, and with this illustration will 
suffice to convey the great possibilities in the use of the genus 
for hybridisation purposes. 
The various species are easily cultivated ; they require the 
temperature of an intermediate hoi se ; the cool and moist end 
of the Cattleya house, suits them well. To flower them satis- 
factorily, they require a liberal amount of strong light; in 
fact, they should oidy be shaded from the direct rays of the 
sunlight when there is a possibility of the foliage becoming 
scorched. Tall conservatories are particularly adapted for 
their culture, and the S. macrantha section, especially tJiei 
dwarf growing S. m. nana, are suitable for planting out in 
prominent places in the rock fernery. Being semi-deciduous 
plants, they are particularly adaptable for the above purposes. 
The potting compost should consist of two. parts fibrous loam 
to one part peat, with sufficient rough sand and finely-broken 
crocks added to prevent stagnation. If the plants are large 
specimens^ the compost, should be of a coarser nature than for 
the smaller ones. The pots used should provide, ample 
space, as it is not. desirable to repot annually, and, being 
robust-rooting plants, they quickly fill the pot with roots when 
growing satisfactorily. Drainage should bei clean and ample, 
as an abundant supply of water is necessary after the plants 
have become established, especially during the growing season. 
When repotting, all leafless growths should be cut. away and 
decaying material removed. Press the compost firmly about 
the roots and cover the surface with a layer of living sphagnum 
moss.. 
The most, desirable kinds are S. macrantha, in its varied 
characteristics!; the white variety, S. in. alba, known asi S. 
kin.as.tia.na, S. xantholeuea, S. lucasiana, S. Lowii, etc. The 
hybrids S. Yeiitohii and S. amesiana are also desirable .addi¬ 
tions, having free habit of growth, and they rarely fail to 
flower satisfactorily. H. J. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 
Now that we have entered into. October, the principal 
feature of uie shrubbery will be the beauty of the autumn 
tints, considered by many the most beautiful colours of the 
year, and though these may tend to. remind us. of the dull 
season, approaching, yet we can enjoy them for some time to 
oomei. There are a, few shrubs which commence colouring 
about the middle of September, and are especially valuable 
for their earliness. 
Fine Oaks. —- Quercus. palustris, the Marsh or Pin Oak, 
which hails from the United States, where it forms a tree 
80 ft. in height, is one of the most beautiful of the. Oak family 
and makes a. conspicuous treei in the landscape, either in spring 
or autumn. It will succeed well by water, and there is a form 
named pendula of distinct habit. Quercus Phello® is. another 
beautiful Oak with long, narrow leaves which assume varied 
colours of red and yellow. This has a distinct habit, and is a 
worthy subject for the choice shrubbery, being a moderate 
grower, and does not require much pruning or other attention. 
Honey Locusts. — One seldom sees the Gleditschias in 
gardens, but. they are very ornamental, and among the most 
interesting of foliage shrubs. To the observant eye, also, the 
autumn, tints are very attractive. The Honey Locust, G. tri- 
acantho®, is the. most common variety, in which the- branches 
are armed with very strong thorns. A variant named G. 
triacanthos 1 excelsa is devoid of prickles, and the foliage dies 
off a. pure golden yellow. The weeping form of this is de¬ 
cidedly ornamental. A stronger grower with more formidable 
spines is G. horrida. or sinensis, and this, would, I think, make 
a good tree for park planting on, account of its robust habit. 
In spite of their delicate foliage, the Gleditschias are also' 
excellent for planting in towns. Well-drained, loamy sod suits 
them to perfection, and only sufficient pruning to keep them 
shapely is needed. 
Euonymus alatus is one of the most beautiful shrubs for 
autumn tints., and at the present time is very showy. It. has 
a variety named Americana, which is, however, by far superior, 
although seldom seen in this country. The foliage assumes a 
uniform, rosy pink colour, which lasts a considerable time, 
and the habit, being close and bushy, this shrub is well suited 
for the mixed border. 
Rhus Toxicodendron, the Poison Oak or Ivy, is, without 
doubt, one of our most beautiful shrubs, and few things 
surpass it when the leave® are well coloured. Its poisonous 
properties have deterred many from planting it, hut during 
the. last twenty years we have grown it here, and no. one has 
received the slightest injury, so that it appears not to. be so 
dangerous as some would have us believe. As a wall plant, 
either on the shady or sunny side, it succeeds well, and we 
have also found it excellent for the shrubbery. It. needs sup¬ 
porting when, grown in this position, and if a good stake about 
6 ft. in height is placed to the plant, and the stems tied to it, 
a neat pillar of pyramidal growth will be formed. The leaves 
are beautiful at any time, being a deep glossy green above and 
whitish beneath through the summer, and crimson and gold in 
autumn. It. requires but little- pruning, and a rather poor soil 
will produce the best results. 
Rosa rubrifolia.— In this country one seldom sees this beau¬ 
tiful species grown, in quantity, and yet when a fair-sized bed 
is planted in the pleasure grounds or massed in quantity in 
the woodland, there are few things which present a more dis- 
