December 24, 1904 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
10.37 
repeating the dose once or twice before the buds burst, as 
heavy rain* will be sure to wash some of it off. The next item 
will be to give the ground a good dressing of short manure, this 
to be lightly forked in during fine weather. 
Currants, Red and White, require to be spurred back fairly 
tight, leaving 6 in. to 8 in. of new wood to extension branches, 
and these ought to be a foot apart so that light and air can 
reach the centre when the foliage is on. Black Currants fruit 
principally upon wood made the previous year; therefore in 
pruning cut out old or exhausted branches, encouraging young- 
wood from the base, spurring back side-shoots as in the case of 
reds. If birds molest the red or white varieties, serve them 
the same as Gooseberries, and manure as for the last-men¬ 
tioned fruit. Cuttings of these bush fruits can be now inserted 
in nursery lines 6 in. asunder, cutting the growths 8 in. or 
9 in. long and nipping out the point, also the bottom buds, 
except Black Currants, leaving four at the top to form the 
coining bush. Plant the cuttings firm, and see that the base 
rests at the bottom of trench or hole made for its reception. 
Bicton, Devonshire. James Matne. 
The Flower Garden. 
Watsoniana meriana iridifolia O’Brieni. —This is an excel¬ 
lent plant for a position such as svas recommended for Iris un- 
guicularis. In habit of growth the above subject resembles 
the Gladioli, the corrn being similar to that of the latter. The 
flowers are pure white and produced on a scape about 2^ ft. 
or 3 ft. high. The soil for Watsonias should be a good loam, 
well drained, and it will be beneficial to place some sharp sand 
round the conns. Owing to growth commencing early, it is 
well to place a quantity of bracken or similar light material 
over the young shoots during severe weather. The flowers are 
produced in early summer and make a pretty show, well repay¬ 
ing a little care in cultivation. 
Carthamns tinctorius is a half-hardy annual worthy of ex¬ 
tended cultivation. The flower-heads are of a rich orange 
colour and last for a considerable time in beauty. Seeds 
should be sown! in January, and wjien germination lias taken 
place, the seedlings should be gradually inured to cooler 
quarters as the growth proceeds. It is essential with this 
plant to begin early and grow on gradually so as to have 
strong plants for putting out in May, otherwise the flowers are 
late in appearing. The plants grow from 2 ft. to 3 ft. high 
and branch considerably, so that a reasonable amount of space 
should be allowed between the plants when put outside. 
At this season of the year outdoor w'ork in the flower-garden 
consists chiefly of maintaining neatness and order as far as 
possible. During mild weather opportunity will be taken to 
repair worn and unsightly places on lawns and edges of walks, 
etc. Spring-flowering plants in beds and borders require to 
be examined periodically, as they are apt to become loose 
through the action of wind and frost. Indoors, a strict eye 
must be kept on all stock plants intended to furnish cuttings 
later on. During severe weather when outdoor w T ork is im¬ 
possible bedding relargoniums may lie overhauled, removing 
dead leaves, etc. Autumn-struck Fuchsias will require stak¬ 
ing, and many other similar plants will benefit from being 
attended to, thus ensuring a good start being made with the 
new' year. B. W. J. 
Plants causing Eczema.— Dr. Dubreuil, a French practi¬ 
tioner of repute, advances instances which display the Primrose 
and the Chrysanthemum as open to something more than sus¬ 
picion. He cites the case of a gardener who had for eight years 
suffered from eczema every spring, and of another who was 
tormented with the same ailment every autumn, all treatment 
being in both cases vain. Hearing that the one worked especially 
among Primroses and the other among Chrysanthemums, he 
ordered, more as a “ shot ” than anything else, that these flowers 
should not be touched. The eczema in both cases disappeai'ed 
as if by magic. 
Among the Orchids. 
Dendrobiums. — Many of the early flowering kinds of the 
deciduous section of Dendrobiums will now be pushing their 
flower-buds. Where flowers are desired early in the year the 
most forward plants should be selected and removed to warmer 
conditions than those afforded to the plants at rest. Care must 
be observed to remove the plants by degrees, for if the plants 
are immediately transferred to the hothouse it will be found 
that instead of flowers young shoots will be obtained. It is 
always a safe plan if possible to see the flower-buds actually 
before removing the plants to quarters where they may be 
more liberally treated. The quality of the flowers procurable 
is considerably affected by the conditions under which they 
expand. It is well-nigh impossible to get the quality of flowers 
in the months of January and February, even in the most 
favourable positions ; there is a lack of substance and a diminu¬ 
tion of colour that is found in the same plant when opened 
under stronger light and generally more favourable outside 
conditions. It is advisable, therefore, to retard rather than to 
hasten the flowering season unless the plants are really re¬ 
quired to flower early in the year. 
Young seedling Dendrobiums should be kept under careful 
observation. As soon as young growth appears, any repotting 
requirements necessary should be attended to ; any such work 
which can safely be attended to now should be taken advantage 
of. This considerably facilitates the work when the season 
advances and one’s attention is required for more pressing 
matters. 
Imported Dendrobiums. —The season has now arrived when 
importations of D. wardianufn, D. nobile, D. crassinode, D. 
aureum, D. Falconerii, D. fiudlayanum, etc., arrive. It is 
really remarkable how many of some of these species annually 
reach this country. How readily they sell when they arrive in 
anything like condition. One almost wonders what can become 
of so many plants when there is such an annual demand. If 
the early importations are in sound condition it is advisable to 
secure what plants are required. 1 find it a good plan when 
plants are first received to go carefully over them, cut away 
any dead or decaying matter about the plants, and get them 
in condition for potting. This done, 1 prefer to delay the 
plants restarting into growth if possible until the end of 
February or the beginning of March. If a position on the 
trellis of the stage in the resting house can be obtained, or 
even if they can be suspended from the wires of a resting 
vinery where frost is excluded, it will suit the purpose. No 
water will be required, but as soon as the plants commence to 
emit new growths they should be immediately potted, afford¬ 
ing good drainage and using a compost of equal portions of 
fibrous peat, leaf-soil and sphagnum moss. No water will be 
necessary if the compost is in a reasonably damp state. As 
soon as potting is completed place the plants under slightly 
warmer conditions, but do not encourage too rapid growth. 
As soon as the new roots are emitted more liberal treatment in 
respect to water both in the pots and atmosphere is required, 
and as the sun’s rays will by this time have obtained con¬ 
siderable power, rapid growth will occur, which must have 
every encouragement. 
Dendrobium wardianum has of late years become greatly 
sought after for cut-flower purposes. I have noticed in pro¬ 
minent West-end florists’ shops during the past year innumer¬ 
able quantities of bulbs covered with flowers cut short off at 
the base. I personally cannot regard this as anything but an 
undesirable method, which is nothing short of the total de¬ 
struction. In D. nobile the case is altogether different, as 
it flowers generally from the second bulb ; but as the leading 
growth is the one that flowers in D. wardianum, what can be 
left in which it can be hoped to procure a satisfactory condi¬ 
tion of growth the following season 1 It may suit the cut- 
flower trade and trade growers, but in private establishments 
it should not be countenanced unless ample means are at dis¬ 
posal to secure annually replenishment of stock by imported 
plants. H. J. 
