THE GARDENING WORLD. May 21,1904. 
Pines.— As the earliest Queens show signs of ripening, set 
aside the watercan, though distribute plenty of moisture about 
the pit two or three times daily, and a thin shade should be 
rolled over the lights from 10.30 to 3 p.m. on, bright days. 
Succession plants, as well, are the better thus' protected from 
the direct sun. Afford abundance of air to ripening fruit by 
day when bright, and see that swelling fruits do not lack water 
supply at the root, pouring it well in amongst the bottom 
leaves, nothing beating cowyard drainings and guano water, 
weakened down to moderate strength. Plants potted this 
spring do 1 not require this assistance, neither must they be over- 
watered, examining each plant carefully, and be satisfied water 
is necessary before applying it. James Mayne. 
13Mon, Devonshire. 
Among the Orchids. 
Laelia anceps.—This, beautiful winter-flowering species is, 
now emerging from itsi prolonged period of rest, and renewed 
signs of vitality will be apparent by the new roots being 
emitted from the base of the last-made growth. Any repotting 
requirements that may be necessary should now be attended to 
without delay, for if the new roots are permitted to advance 
too, far, it is a difficult matter to prevent injury in the potting 
or top-dressing of the plants. I have previously stated in this 
column how undesirable it is to annually repot, this species. If 
the compost is in good condition and there is ample room to 
contain them in their present pots, or baskets,, it is folly to 
annually repot. In such cases it will be fonnd sufficient if 
the dead surface moss and decaying material is removed from 
the base of the plants and replaced with fresh compost, pre,s,s- 
ing the whole firm and watering so, as to thoroughly wet the 
compost, through after top-dressing has been done,. 
There is no Orchid that requires morei light, than the, various 
sections that go to make, up, the Mexican, group of Laelias. 
Only sufficient shade is necessary to prevent actual scotching, 
so that with discreet ventilation, it. is quite possible to. dispense 
with roof-shading altogether. It is not always possible,, owing* 
to! other subjects having to be accommodated in the same house, 
to treat the plants as they properly require, but even under 
such conditions the plants may generally be placed in a position 
where some advantages, may be obtained, such as, suspending 
near the roof-glass or at the sunny end of the Cattleya house ; 
such a. position, will be sure to be advantageous to the plants, 
and often most desirable results are obtainable thereby. 
Increasing the Stick. —There are, often desirable varieties, 
among the typical dark varieties where it, would be advan¬ 
tageous to increase their numbers, or, on the other Land, to 
increase the number of leading growths, which will not only 
provide finer specimens, but, will also increase the flower-bear¬ 
ing 1 proportions of the plants. How often do we see large 
specimens of the white varieties which have been permitted to 
make, growth after growth for many years, and have only the 
one lead in, which to, produce the only chance of flowering in a 
long array, of pseudo-bulbs succeeding it. The white section of 
L. anceps has, the name of being shy flowering kinds. I for 
one cannot distinguish any such failing qualities, and I am sure 
that if a more discreet use of the knife were made among the 
bulbs and rhizomes many of those, who, complain of want of 
flower would have no such cause of complaint. If the, rhizomei 
is severed immediately behind the second bulb from the lead, 
the dormant eyes soon start into growth, and they frequently 
with us make flowering bulbs the, first, season. Where the leads 
are taken away in, this manner they may either be, removed 
and potted up to make separate plants,, or they may be laid 
in to increase the size of the, specimen from which they have, 
been removed. The compost most suitable, for the Mexican 
Laelias consists of equal proportions of fibrous, peat, leaf-soil 
and chopped sphagnum moss,, with sufficient sand or broken 
crocks addeo to. render it porous. The plants should be freely 
syringed overhead whenever the, outside conditions permit,. 
Greenhouse Creepers. 
There is no doubt that the beauty of some greenhouses and 
conservatories may be considerably enhanced when creeping 
and climbing plants are represented, and, if judiciously em¬ 
ployed, they are .a, source of not a little pleasure. I sav 
“ judiciously ” advisedly, for there is such a thing as over¬ 
doing a house with foliage on the roof as to injure the other 
subjects in the place. Whatever is planted, therefore, should 
be subsidiary to the, plants on the stages, which need light. The 
aspect, too,, of the house itself is one that ought to be taken 
into consideration, for in houses that only get the sun for part 
of the day it is obvious that creepers should be sparsely 
planted. We may do a deal with Clematises; some of them 
are shy in blooming out of doors, but under glass give us freely 
of their blossoms. Let me instance a few. C. indivisa lobata, 
the tende,rest of them all, is only fitted for indoor work, and 
produces many small white blossoms; Countess of Lovelace, 
lilac ; Mrs. Bateman, lavender. The Plumbagos are very effec¬ 
tive, both the blue and white, and the same may be said of 
Lapagerias; Coba,ea scandens, and Taesonias in variety, all do 
well on the roof of a, house, so long as they are kept within 
proper limits. Abutilons, although more frequently met with 
as pot plants, will, if planted out in a border in the house, 
grow rapidly and bloom profusely in the warmest portion of 
the house. There the Stephanotis will thrive and yield its 
wax-like and exquisitely-scented flowers. If a little bright 
colour is wanted in early spring, then the blooms of Tropaeolum 
lobianum will supply it. Heliotropes, after a twelve months’ 
growth, when planted in good material, soon cover space on 
a roof, and the swiftly-scented blooms are, always acceptable. 
Roses, too, offer many inducements ; the immense number of 
blossoms one may cut, in a season, their fragrance, and their 
usefulness in a. cut. state are, points that many appreciate. 
As a. general rule, such plants are best grown in. borders within 
the house, instead of in pots; as then the trouble involved in 
watering js 1 considerably reduced, and any approach at dryness 
or neglect to water plants in pots speedily asserts itself. 
W. F. 
Lily of the Nile Culture. 
Except in cases where only the very coolest of treatment has 
been afforded, these useful winter and spring flowering plants 
will now be past their best for another season, and, while they 
may now be set into some out-of-the-way corner, they should 
not be entirely neglected. 
I have grown the common ltichardia africa.ua largely fof 
years, and many “ G. W.” readers will agree with me in saying, 
that a’dozen or so of their snow-white spathes, set up in a 
vase with a few of their own leaves, have a decorative value not 
easily outravailed by plants which require double or treble 
the care to grow. well. 
As the plants go out of flower, my practice for yearn has 
bt'<en to, set the pots into, a. cold Peach house, after making sure; 
they were free from green fly, where the water supply is 
gradually withheld until the foliage, is ripe, when the pots are 
set outside about the middle or end of May, and thereafter 
left to shift for themselves for some weeks. 
If rain fall, well and good, but no water is given at, this time 
until returning 'growth- is visible; when potting 1 is taken in 
hand. 
I use 9-in. pots, and for potting soil three parts good loam 
to one part made up of sand, leaf-mould, lime rubbish, half- 
rotted horse-droppings,, soot, and bone meal; in fact, I have 
found in practice that a mixture such as will grow Chrysanthe¬ 
mums well will also suit, these Callas. 
It is years ago since I gave up the old orthodox practice of 
breaking these plants up into single, crowns at potting time, 
and only those that are likely to, burst their pots with roots 
before another season are broken up and repotted. These 
generally amount to about half of the plants grown, and these 
are divided into a,s few pieces as they will conveniently break 
into without destroying many of the young roots. 
