THE GARDENING WORLD. 
<•‘■'3 
it is very fine. Planted in the open, however, its true character 
is seen to much better advantage, and it forms a dense shrub 
from 4 ft. to 6 ft. in height. The foliage is always good, 
being a dark, glistening green, and the flowers, white in colour, 
are produced so thickly as to almost hide the leaves. It is 
commonly known as the Mexican Orange Flower, as it much 
resembles Orange blossom, and is very sweetly scented. Cut¬ 
tings of the young growths strike easily if placed in a gentle 
beat. A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Among the Orchids. 
Seedling Orchids. —With the advent of the month of June, 
the Orchid hybridist has to take full advantage of the oppor¬ 
tunities offered to enable him to produce the most desirable 
results in growth the facilities of our all too short summers 
provide. In the case of seedling Cattleyas, Laelia.s, and Den- 
drobiums, the seed sown in February will, in many cases, have 
had the seedlings pricked off by the end of March and early 
in April. These will now be producing strong roots, and 
are therefore ready to be transferred to single pots. 
I have for years advocated in The Gardening World the 
desirability of providing a. separate existence for each plant 
at the earliest possible moment by transferring them to 
separate pots- - For this purpose* it is well to* have at hand an, 
ample supply of “ thimble pots.” These are about- | in. in, 
diameter, and can, be procured from any nurseryman! who 
makes the raising of Orchid seedlings a speciality. Place one 
or two, small pieces of broken crock at the bottom, then, fill 
the* pots with a. compost of equal portions of leaf-soil, finely 
broken peat, and chopped sphagnum, with a liberal sprinkling 
of rough sand sufficient to render the whole porous. Press 
this compost firmly into the pots, shear off level with the 
rim of the pots, give a good watering with tepid rain water, 
and the pots are ready to receive the seedling plants. 
In transplanting, a pointed stick or a piece of pointed bone 
is the best. First make a hole in the potting compost, and 
then place the transplanter carefully beneath the seedling ; 
avoid touching the root in removal, and after placing the. seed¬ 
ling in position carefully press the compost against the roots 
and make the plant firm in position. The secret of success- in 
the growing of this section is to keep them going. 
A few years back we frequently heard that it took prac¬ 
tically half a lifetime to procure seedling Orchids and induce 
them to flower ; and I am convinced that this thought deterred 
the more general cultivation of Orchids in the* fact that it 
prevented many amateurs from the attempt of raising seed¬ 
lings, and thus creating the same interests which many of 
our present-day Orchid amateurs possess. W ith the better 
facilities and more familiar acquaintanceship with our plants, 
Ihese obstacles are* being gradually removed, *and the more 
general interest in this department is 'almost everywhere 
apparent. With the greater interest a corresponding advance 
in cultural knowledge has been obtained, so much s*o that the 
period between seed-sowing and flowering plants has been so 
far diminished that with proper treatment veiy few of the 
crosses take more than from four to five years to* flower, while 
in many cases it is considerably less. 
These results are only obtainable by giving the attention 
and care necessary for the successful cultivation of other plants 
outside the Orchidaceous families. I have no hesitation in, 
saying that the same considerations given to the rearing of 
Orchid seedlings will differ little from that of other plants 
which can only be cultivated successfully and satisfactorily 
by the observant and careful operator. Potting on when 
necessary from the plants requiring more room, or through the 
potting compost having become decayed and unsuitable, the 
discretion in the proper 'application of root moisture, atmor 
spheric moisture, fluctuation of temperature and keeping free 
from insect pests are some of the principal considerations! 
necessary to* enable us to keep pace with the times, and thus 
enable all to become efficient in the profession, H. J. 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Table Plants.—Symmetrical, well-coloured plants of Cro¬ 
tons, Ara.lias, Dracaenas*, Pandanus, Palms'and similar subjects 
are in constant request for dinner-table and other decorations 
in the dwelling, and especially so in the autumn and winter 
months. To ensure having a, good -supply of these, every 
attention should be given from now onwards. They should 
occupy the best position in light houses and be raised up on 
pots or bricks to bring them near the light-, and to* allow the 
air to* pass about* them freely. Each plant must stand clear 
of its neighbour and be turned round every two* or three days 
in order that all parts receive light. The probationer who 
takes an interest in, bis work will attend to these small details 
as lie' passes round for the daily watering. At no* time must 
the plants- approach dryness at- the roots, for, generally speak¬ 
ing, they are kept in rather small pots that will fit the vases 
or other receptacles in which they are placed in rooms. 
Another important phase is to keep them well supplied with 
stimulants' for the same reasons'. Good farmyard manure in 
liquid form is both safe- and nutritious*, but it should be* alter¬ 
nated with weak soot-water and an approved artificial manure, 
always bearing in mind that a weak dose applied regularly is 
more safe and of greater benefit generally than overdoseo given 
at- longer intervals. Sponge the* foliage a,s time allows*; this 
will answer a twofold purpose, viz., it* will cleanse them, for 
appearance’s sake, and will conduce to* bea-lthy growth by 
keeping the pores' of the leaves open. 
Those plants requiring it- should have a neat, green-painted 
stake placed to* them, and the main stem tied, thereto. Pro¬ 
pagate from cuttings any quick-growing edging or other plants 
that may be required in quantity for decoration later on ; these 
will prove fresher and better in every way than those struck 
early in the year. They will strike freely in any temperate 
house or pit at this* time. 
Streptocavpus. — There are few flowering plants* that receive 
a greater share of admiration than these. The usual mode of 
raising a, stock of plants is by sowing seed of a. good strain, 
early in the year and growing on the young plants freely 
throughout the summer lay potting on as they require it, and 
as* they fill tliei pots with roots 1 give weekly applications of 
liquid manure*. To* perpetuate* any particularly good variety 
the stock may be increased by leaf-propagation, at- any period 
of the spring o*r summer. Although the seedlings will produce 
seme flowers* t-liei first year, it is in the second and third year 
that the plants appear to best advantage. By -sowing a- small 
packet of seed every year or two and selecting only the very 
best varieties when they flower, a. good collection, of great 
merit may be* quickly formed. 
A compost that suits* the Streptocarpus well consists of two 
parts good loam to* one* each of peat and flaky leaf-soil, adding 
plenty of sharp* sand and a sprinkling of soot *and some artificial 
fertiliser. Use as lumpy as* the size of the shift will allow, 
and pot* fairly firm. Care must be taken not to spill the 
manure water upon the leaves or they will be disfigured for the 
whole season and are liable' to> be burnt by the sun. 
Healthy plants now showing flower will be best* in a pit 
having a hotwater pipei running round and a cool ash bottom 
for the plants to stand upon. Syringe between the pots night 
and morning, but avoid wetting the leaves*. A little heat may 
with advantage be turned on at- night, and the glass* should 
be shaded by day when bright sun is shining. 
Z«nal Pelargoniums.—In most gardens cold frames will 
iw be available for the reception, of those plants that are 
mted to flower in the srreenhouse in the autumn and winter, 
d n,o* time should be lost in disposing them thinly in them 
Admit* abundance of air to induce stocky and ^well-npeme* 
o-wth and pinch out the points* when- they attain 3 in. or 
in Ion o’ Apply weak soot,-wa,ter and -sheep* or cow liquid 
mure every few days* throughout tlie summer. The lights 
, v be left off on dull days, and in the early morning and 
ening, replacing them and shading lightly during the hottest 
rt of the day. 
