112 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 11. 1905. 
being ravaged by slugs ; but in case of very severe frost, which 
we may yet experience, a little of the long litter should also 
be used, but removed whenever safe to do so. 
Shallots.— The earlier these are planted after this date the 
better. These revel in a deeply-tilled and well-enriclied soil. 
Plant in rows 1 ft. apart and 10 in. from plant to plant; the 
crowns should not be buried. 
Parsnips enjoy a long season of growth, and as the young 
plants are perfectly hardy, the earlier the seed can be sown 
after this date the better, providing, of course, the ground is 
in a workable condition. Much will depend on the locality 
and nature of soil one has to contend with, and in some cases 
and seasons it may not be possible to do so till cpiite the end 
of next month, and it will be far better to wait even as late 
as then than to attempt to do so when the land is in an unfit 
state for receiving the seed. To ensure fine exhibition speci¬ 
mens, except in a very few favoured places, special means must 
be taken. Holes should be bored to a deptli of 4 ft. or 5 ft., 
allowing 20 in. between each, and filled up pretty firmly with 
finely-sifted old potting soil or a similar mixture. 
Sow small quantities in boxes of Brussels Sprouts, Parsley, 
more Cauliflowers and Lettuce, and box up Mint and Tarragon. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. E. Beckett. 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Adiantum cuneatum.—A good batch of these Ferns should 
now be repotted and started into growth for providing fronds 
for various decorative purposes in advance of the main batch. 
Assuming that the established plants have already had the old 
fronds cut off and afforded a partial rest, the required number 
of the best and most forward should be selected for present 
potting. Before commencing to repot, it will be well to con¬ 
sider for what purpose the plants will be required. If for cut¬ 
ting purposes only, then some of the larger ones may be re¬ 
potted into a size larger pot without disturbing the crown ; but 
if small plants are wanted, division must be resorted to unless 
one has a sufficiency of younger plants raised from spores last 
year. My plan is to divide a. certain number of large plants 
each spring, repotting the pieces into 60-sized pots, or even 
smaller ones for particular purposes. Given good treatment 
these will be fit for repotting into 48’s at this time without 
much disturbance of the roots. Plants now in 48’s may be 
transferred to 32 s or 2-Fs, whilst any others may be divided. 
Many plants that were potted last year may remain as they 
are for a season, for it is by no means necessary to repot every 
year. I prefer a compost consisting of fibrous loam two parts, 
leaf-soil one part, decomposed farmyard manure one part, and 
adding a little wood ashes and sand. The use of peat- in large 
quantities is not advised unless good loam is unobtainable, 
then use one part peat. Clean pots and efficient drainage are 
essential to success. Pot firmly and place the plants in the 
propagating pit. to encourage them to start away quickly, after¬ 
wards removing them to the stove. 
Myosotis oblongata —Blue flowers are none too plentiful in 
the conservatory at any time of the year, and especially is 
this colour lacking during the spring months. This Forget-me- 
not supplies the want admirably, and the flowers are much 
appreciated. The required number of plants should beyaised 
in the late autumn either by sowing seed or by inserting cut¬ 
tings. The present time is opportune for transferring the 
young plants so raised from the small pots, viz., 60’s, to 48’s 
or 32’s. Any fairly good mixture of light soil will be suitable. 
This is, of course, a. greenhouse subject, and if in much demand 
several batches may be' grown to come into flower succes- 
sionally. 
Richardia elliottiana.—The conus of this beautiful yellow 
Calla should now be potted up and plunged in the propagating 
bed, where they will quickly recommence growth. Avoid over¬ 
potting at this time, it being better to reshift into a size larger 
pot as growth proceeds. 
Climbing Plants.—All these, whether growing in the stove 
or the greenhouse, should now be pruned and otherwise put in 
order for starting into new growth. Prune away all spray 
growth or any that is unripe, unless wanted for extension, and 
tie in the remainder neatly. In all cases maturition of the 
wood of the previous year’s growth is absolutely essential to 
ensure free flowering. Plants in borders should have an inch 
oi two of the exhausted surface soil removed and replaced with 
a suitable compost of new. Those growing in pots or tubs mav 
be reported or top-dressed as thought necessary. A free use 
of the syringe combined with a genial Warmth should now be 
accorded. 
Achimenes.— These bright-flowering plants are now seldom 
met with in gardens; this is to be deplored, for they are un¬ 
surpassed for making a. display in the stove during earlv 
summer, and for the conservatory in late summer and autumn. 
The conns, or tubers, should now be brought out from where 
stored for the winter and repotted in pots, pans, or baskets 
for suspending from the roof. The compost must be light and 
fairly rich; equal parts loam, leaf-soil, peat, and decayed 
manure, with plenty of sand and nodules of charcoal, suits them 
well. Cover the tubers with \ in. of sifted soil, and place the 
receptacles containing them in a dark place in the propagating 
pit until new shoots are formed, when a light shelf in the stove 
should be accorded them. 
Seed Sowing.—This interesting and important operation 
wdl now be engaging attention. By sowing the seed of many 
of our most useful stove and greenhouse plants early in the 
year, the seedlings become well established before the sun be¬ 
comes very powerful. Grevillea, Begonias, Ganna, Celsia, 
Cordyline, Streptocarpus, Saintpaulia and others too numerous 
to mention may be sown at this time. K. M. 
Epiiaelia flctchcriana. 
The above is a very interesting bigeneric hybrid, the par¬ 
entage' of which was L. harpophyllum x Epipendrum atropur- 
pureum, better known in gardens as E. macrochilum, though 
the former name is the older. The progeny is intermediate 
between the parents and more moderate in size than we should 
have expected it, though the flowers may yet be larger when 
the plant gets fully established. The colours take more after 
the pollen parent, though there may possibly be better- 
coloured forms if the raisers, Messrs. F. Sander and Sons, St. 
Albans, have a batch of seedlings. 
I lie'sepals are spathulate, while the petals are oblanceolate 
and of a very soft orange colour. The lip has a narrow tube 
of pale blush colour, folded round the column. The lip is 
white, faintly tinted with lilac, wavy on the margin and in size 
and colour recalling that of Laelia albida. We do not, how¬ 
ever, suggest that the latter was a parent, but that the lip is 
similar in size and form. There is no trace of orange colour 
in L. albida. 1 lie pseudo-bulb of the newcomer is 3 in. to 
5 in. long, and bears on the top two lanceolate leaves 6 in. 
to 10 in. long. 
Apple Mere de Menage. 
1 lie abox T e is usually regarded as a cooking Apple of first 
quality and very handsome appearance. It also keeps late, 
and at the present time is in veiy good form. The fruit varies 
from oblate to ovate, and is strongly but bluntly five angled. 
r l lie eye is closed in a slightly corrugated basin. The skin is 
of a dark reddish-bronze in the autumn, becoming much 
brighter later on and more or less striped and splashed with 
crimson, except, on the shady side, which is greenish-yellow. 
Ihe flesh is white, soft though crisp, and remarkably juicy 
even at the present time'. It is slightly sweet, and makes not 
unpleasant eating even for dessert purposes. Indeed, we 
think it would make a far superior Apple for general use in 
town's where the population use a deal of fruit in the raw state, 
and it is certainly much superior to many of those which are 
sold both on the streets and in the greengrocers’ shops. Judg- 
ing bv the frequency with which it. makes its appearance in 
exhibits during the autumn, it is an Apple upon which a con¬ 
siderable amount of reliance can be placed to produce a crop 
in the average of seasons 
