882 
THE GARDENING WORLD\ 
November 5, 1904. 
Among the Orchids. 
General Remarks. — With, thei shortening days and dimin¬ 
ishing sun power the moisture will no't become distilled so 
rapruiy, and consequently the process termed by gardeners 
‘ aamping down” will not be so frequently required, and dis¬ 
cretion will have to be used to provide the necessary atuioi- 
spherie moisture and to avoid excess 1 . The prevailing condi¬ 
tions outside must of necessity govern to a great extent the 
inside requirements; the heating, damping and applying- ven¬ 
tilation, are all more or less subject -to the prevailing outside 
conditions. Thus practically the cultivation of our plants 
dep-ends upon the proper use® of these necessary facilities, and 
they should be the first consideration of all young gardeners. 
1 make it, a rule never to damp, the house until the average 
temperature of the particular house has been reached. It will 
frequently occur that it isi favourable outside over night at 
the time the fires are banked in, but the colder change before 
meaning has' brought with it a corresponding fall in tempera¬ 
ture inside the houses which has caused them to fall below 
the normal. 
I find that even in, the cool divisions plants rarely take any 
harm with low temperatures, providing the conditions are 
correspondingly dry. Where a saturated atmo'Sphere has to 
be contended with dining any lengthened period of low tem¬ 
perature®, unsightly spotting of the foliage, causing permanent 
disfigurement, is perhaps the least evil obtainable from such 
conditions. Not only in cold weather has one to guard against 
excessive atmospheric moisture, but during foggy or ! even sun¬ 
less conditions it is advisable to use every care. I have found, 
in a long experience under the influence of London fogs that 
the least moisture in the atmosphere dining the period they 
last, the less injury was recorded to the plants and flowers. 
Watering.—The application of root moisture must also' be 
done with considerable discretion, although many species and 
hybrids having pseudo-bulbs, which have thus some moisturei- 
storage provision, having finished their seasons growth, will 
under the most favourable conditions require but little 
root moisture. There are other kinds with only rhizomatous 
growth where there is little or no provision for support in dry 
weather or under drying conditions,. These naturally require 
more root moisture, and it is to the proper application of 
moisture that will depend toi a great extent, the successful cul¬ 
tivation of the plants. Where leaf-soil has been used to a 
liberal extent in the potting compost of Orchids, I consider 
that success or failure depends entirely on the treatment the 
plants get in respect to thei application of root moisture. There 
is every 'advantage to be obtained from the use of leaf-soil, but 
it cannot be too greatly condemned in, the hands; of an in- 
discriminating operator who has no thought but, to> pour water 
about the plant®. Under such treatment it is out of a.ll quesr 
tion to look for satisfactory results. The house should have 
obtained its normal temperature before watering the plants, 
and the water used should be at least, two degrees; hotter than 
the normal condition of the house. 
Ventilation.— Discreet, ventilation at this season of the 
year is most desirable; whenever the outside conditions permit 
of the opening of the ventilators 1 —-the; lower ones for prefer¬ 
ence—it should be resorted to, c-are being taken to avoid direct 
draughts coming in contact with the plants. 
Temperatures.,—,-The temperature in all the divisions should 
now be gradually reduced so that by the middle of this month 
(November) the winter degree of temperature may be reached. 
Plants that are in an active state of growth should be moved to 
the more favourable position in thei houses, or even, if removed 
to 1 a warmer division for a few weeks it will be found beneficial 
\fter the gradual lowering of temperature has commenced. I 
am speaking of plants, of course, that have reached the flower¬ 
ing state. Unflowered seedlings should not be rested until 
they have reached the flowering stage Resting only serve® to 
delay flowering, which should be avoided. H. J. 
Fruit Under Glass. 
Pines.-—The ripening process will be slow during the next, 
three months; nevertheless, it is a, most welcome fruit when 
thoroughly matured, therefore take every precaution that 
nothing obstructs the light and the sun from reaching them, 
and the greatest care must be exercised that no root waterings 
are given haphazardly ; a drop too, much in summer may not 
matter so much, but given now would spell rain to the fruit. 
Neither must manurial waterings be so frequent, but examine 
the plants once each week, and should water be required apply 
the same at a temperature of 80 deg.; the atmospheric mois¬ 
ture, too;, must be lessened, very little damping between the 
plunged plant® being necessary unless it is close to the hot 
water pipe®, and evaporating pan® or troughs should be kept 
dry, as this) condensing on the glass roof when the ventilators 
cannot be opened drops into' the hearts, of the plants or fruits 
and often disfigure® the latter. A night temperature of 65 to 1 
70 deg. will suit fruiting plants, and five and ten less for* suc¬ 
cessions and suckers respectively. 
The Early Vinery. — A start must soon be made if ripe 
Grapes are to’ be fit towards the middle of May next. Tire 
first operation will be to get the pruning done. Here no fixed 
rale can be adhered to; the pruner is. the best, guide in the 
matter a® to whether thei cut should be at the first or second 
eye, or even, the third or fourth where the extension 1 system is 
in vogue. Personally, I prefer toi cut at the second eye, as it 
is a simple matter - to' rub' off the outer one when disbudding 
comes round if it is considered that the first, shoot is robust 
enough and has a bunch. Use a sharp knife and make a clean 
cut outwards, and should there be any signs of the cut bleeding 
(which there should not, be with Vines: well ripened) smooth 
over the cut surface with styptic or painters’ notting. 
Secondly, get the glass; also woodwork thoroughly washed 
down with warm soapy water, and the walls scraped or 
brushed down, beforei limewashing the same. Unless mealy 
bug is, in, evidence, the rods will require but little peeling; 
just, clean off the loose bark and clean around the spurs and 
wash the rods with warm soapy water; but where the enemy 
just referred to is prevalent, more drastic measures must be 
brought to bear by removing any skin or bark wherever it is 
likely to, form a shelter for this insect, taking every precaution 
beforehand that they do not drop on the border by placing 
sheets or good mats underneath to, catch all that is necessary 
to remove from the Vine. Search well around thei old spins, 
and any small holes where previous 1 primings have been made 
should, after probing with a pointed stick, be filled in. with a 
little cement, the latter' being done after the rods have been, 
washed with hot water, having a. wineglass of petroleum to a 
3-gallon can, keeping the contents well agitated while in, use 
to, prevent the petroleum from floating on, the surface. 
Remove an inch or so of soil from tire border and replace 
with fresh, turfy loam having the addition of wood ashes, lime 
rabble arid a ,small quantity of some good Vine manure all 
thoroughly mixed hack before it, is brought in. A night tem¬ 
perature of 48 deg. to 50 deg. will be high enough when 
first, closed, advancing 10 deg. to 15 deg. with sum-heat, syring¬ 
ing the Vine® and all the surroundings twice daily until the 
buds burst,, except during wet, or very dull days, when the 
morning syringing is usually enough. Unless frosty nights set 
in fire heart will scarcely be necessary, and the h ines would be 
a,11 the better without it for twoi or three weeks. M here a 
heap, of fermenting material is taken into the structure fir e- 
heat can be dispensed with for some little time. Pot V mes 
respond to the same treatment as regards temperatures, mois¬ 
ture, etc., and require similar treatment as advocated for po 
Figs a fortnight since in the matter” of plunging, water, e c., 
