April IS, 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
303 
Plum tree is not immune from insects, a small maggot or grub 
infesting the points of the shoots, especially where the winter 
spraying was neglected. These appear during the next two 
months, and are best dealt with by squeezing the curled shoots, 
or rather leaves, as soon as they can be detected, or they play 
havoc with the foliage and sometimes damage many a young 
fruit. 
Cherries.—Similar remarks as to prospects, insects and 
their destruction, may be cited here, but suffice it to say that 
no stone must be left unturned among stone fruits if the best 
possible returns are expected. Black fly are the chief enemy 
that attack this fruit, and they make their appearance quite 
early in the season, similar to the Peach, especially with sweet 
Cherries, and tobacco powder is the safest for the present until 
quassia extract can be syringed on. James Mayne. 
Bicton Gardens, Devonshire. 
Among the Orchids. 
The Cool Division. —The present time and for the next few 
succeeding weeks the cool-house Orchids hold the greatest 
attention. Where Odontoglossum crispum are grown to any 
extent, the display of flowers produced cannot be excelled for 
beauty and usefulness; there are certainly no Orchids that are 
comparable with them for graceful effect when arranged for 
decorative purposes or on the exhibition table. It is remark¬ 
able to me the extent of prejudice among gardeners in respect 
to Orchids. They will constantly preach about having no con¬ 
venience or facilities to grow Orchids. They seem to me to 
altogether overlook their own interests, and the fact that 
Orchids are, after all, only plants, forgetting altogether the fact 
that many of the Orchid species may be accommodated and 
successfully cultivated with far less labour and attention in the 
same structures and under the same conditions as the plants 
they cherish and nurse with so much consideration throughout 
the year. 
I have fully drawn attention in previous issues of The 
Gardening World to the winter-flowering Cypripediums. I 
would now draw attention to- the cool division—that is, to such 
species as Odontoglossum crispum, 0. Pescatorei, 0 trium- 
phans, 0. luteo-purpureum, 0. Hallii, and the numerous 
natural hybrids that appear among the different importations. 
I have no doubt that a great deal of the delay in the more 
general cultivation of Orchids lies in the fact that a general 
impression is common that Orchids are plants that are only to 
be procured by those plentifully endowed with this world’s 
goods, that they are altogether too' expensive to be considered 
in the light of plants for general cultivation. It is quite true 
that special blotched varieties of Odontoglossum crispum are in 
great demand at the present time, and they realise astounding 
prices. Let us consider for a moment where these special 
varieties originate. Go to the sale rooms or a nursery where 
imported plants have just arrived, and they are offered for 
disposal from a single plant to so much per thousand. You 
will find that for a. few shillings you can pick the best plants 
! in the importation, the smaller ones often being sold from 
sixpence to a half-crown each. It is far more possible that the 
purchaser of the small plants may have the gem of the im¬ 
portations, and will thereby illustrate sufficient for our purpose 
how absurd is the contention that even the best of Orchids are 
the luxuries they are represented to, be. It is impossible for 
the best expert to 1 form the slightest idea which will enable 
him to select any special merit amongst imported plants, 
: therefore the humble amateur has an equal prospect of pro¬ 
curing the variety for his modest outlay that is so- much in 
demand at the present day. 
There are often difficulties in gardens to find plants suitable 
for cultivation in houses erected with a north aspect. There 
is nothing suits cool houses better than a north aspect. I am 
j personally more partial to^ our houses with a north aspect than 
to the span-roof structures over which I am in charge. For 
summer treatment certainly the north house is best for Odon- 
toglossums. Where a great mistake is made is permitting too 
low temperatures. I consider an even temperature of about 
30 to 55 deg. throughout the year to be the most suitable for 
satisfactory cultivation. There is a difficulty, I know, in keep¬ 
ing the temperature down during the warm season, but with 
ample atmospheric moisture and discreet ventilation it is pos¬ 
sible to keep within reasonable bounds. I also think that 
another failure to grow the plants is that there is a tendency 
to pot too hard and to use a compost that makes it difficult for 
the roots to penetrate into. If less peat and more sphagnum 
and leaf-soil treatment is understood there would be, I am sure, 
far less difficulty and better results obtainable. Care must 
be taken, now that so many of the plants are in bloom, not to 
permit the scapes to remain too long on the plants after they 
have become expanded, or the pseudo-bulb will possibly shrivel. 
Cut within a reasonable time after the flowers are expanded, 
and they will last well in water. H. J. Chapman. 
The Flower Garden. 
Calceolaria mexicana, native of Mexico, is a pretty little 
annual species which does well in the open border, or may be 
planted in small bays in the rock garden in summer. The 
whole plant attains a height of 1 ft. or 15 in., and bears panicles 
of clear yellow flowers which are produced in succession from 
early summer till late autumn. The leaves are somewhat like 
those of Scabious in shape, and are covered with fine hairs. 
Seeds are produced freely, and self-sown seedlings appear, as a 
rule, where the plants were grown the previous summer. If 
sown inside now, useful plants may be had for planting out 
about the end of May. 
Linum grandiflorum rubrum. —Those who have not hitherto 
grown this magnificent annual should procure seeds at once. 
The flowers are large and of a deep red colour, rendering it a 
splendid subject for large clumps in the herbaceous border or 
for massing in beds. Compared with many annuals, the flowers 
persist over a lengthened period, and wherever grown it has 
proved a source of much enjoyment. The treatment is similar 
to other hardy annuals. 
General Remarks. — Propagation is now well in hand, and 
the required number in many cases is now worked up. Such 
subjects as Telantheras, Lobelia Erinus, etc., for carpet bed¬ 
ding and edgings strike freely at the present- time, and large 
quantities may be rooted in brisk bottom heat. 
Such things as spring-struck Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, 
Abutilons, and the like may now be transferred to' cold frames, 
and all subtropical plants raised annually from seed should 
undergo a veiy gradual hardening off. 
Tuberous Begonias are now starting freely, and if convenient 
may be potted up, though many find it sufficient to allow room 
for development in the boxes, planting direct into beds. 
Outside, in the beds, spring flowers are moving fast, and here 
in the South Hyacinths and Daffodils are making a good show. 
Primula denticulata is a beautiful spring-flowering species, 
with pale lilac flowers produced in globular heads. A bed of 
this and its white variety form a welcome addition to the flower 
garden at, this season. 
The earlier Tulips, like Keizerskroon, Artus and others, are 
now advancing fast and soon will make a brave show. On all 
sides the utmost neatness must be maintained, otherwise the 
beauty and charm of the flowers are detracted from. 
B. W. J. 
—-***"'« 
Sparrow Cltjb in Sussex.— According; to the records of the 
Bodle Street and District Rat and Sparrow Club, Hurstmon 
ceux, Sussex, enormous numbers of vermin were killed during 
the past winter. It seems, however, that they killed a large 
number of birds not usually reckoned as vermin. It is stated 
that the numbei's killed were 4.145 rats and moles, 40 stoats, 
40 rooks, and 2.994 sparrows. We are told, however, that they 
killed 615 blackbirds, linnets, and larks. If such was the 
case, they do not seem to have been very discriminating as to 
the birds they considered as enemies. Starlings and chaffinches 
were also included in this slaughter. 
