67 : 2 
THE GARDENING WORLD . August 26, 1905 
Watering. —Where one has to deal with 
Orchids where the species from different parts 
of the world produce their growth and flowers 
at various seasons, it is impossible to lay 
down any hard-and-fast lines in affording 
water that will apply alike to all the kinds. 
Take, for instance, a plant in full growth in 
the height of summer, when the conditions 
are such that it is difficult to keep sufficient 
moisture about the plant. Compare this to 
an allied genus that may be in a similar state 
of growth in the dead of winter, when the 
outside conditions and want of light have 
scarcely any drying propensities. One’s own 
discretion must be used, and if the material 
is permitted to become dry between waterings, 
there will be little mistake in affording the 
necessary root moisture requirements. 
H. J. Cham ax. 
Hardy Herbaceous Border. 
The principal work in this department will 
now consist of keeping the growths of late 
flowering subjects supported and maintain¬ 
ing the borders in a neat and tidy condition. 
By making a good selection, and planting 
judiciously, a very good display can be 
obtained throughout the autumn months, and 
there is nothing better than the newer varie¬ 
ties of Michaelmas Daisies for producing a 
light and pleasing effect, especially when 
planted on or near the front, and restricted 
to a few stems ; some varieties, in fact, 
should be grown with one stem only. These 
need to be firmly but neatly supported, and 
any extra trouble one may spend on them 
will be Well repaid. In spells of dry weather 
watering must be continued, and the Dutch 
hoe should be applied frequently to keep 
the soil in an open condition and to kill 
weeds. 
Violas. —If liberally treated these will 
continue to give a good display of flower till 
late in autumn, but the seed pods must be 
kept picked off. Frequent soakings of 
clear and liquid manure water should be 
given, and the growths pegged down where 
necessary. 
Lobelias. — The tall varieties, of which 
there is now an excellent variety, should 
be kept supported and well watered, and 
they will make a fine display of flower. A 
variety which does not appear to be so 
widely known as it deserves is L. nanseniana. 
This resembles in habit the old L. Queen 
Victoria, but the foliage is a very dark red, 
and the flowers an intense crimson-purple 
shade. It is a free grower, and very desir¬ 
able for bedding where a mass of rich colour¬ 
ing is desired. A. E. T. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 
Autumn-flowering Shrubs. —Where the 
above are cultivated to any extent, those 
which flower during the third season of the 
year are always much appreciated, and though 
there are numerous autumn-flowering sub¬ 
jects, one seldom sees them grown in quan¬ 
tity, which is surprising when one considers 
how'many people spend the autumn in the 
country, and wish to have shrubs flowering 
then. All those mentioned below are quite 
hardy and easily grown if the most essential 
points as before advised are considered. 
Eobinia neo-mexicana. — Though com¬ 
paratively new and but little known, this 
promises to be a mo | st useful member of a 
beautiful family. It is seen to the best ad¬ 
vantage when treated as a standard, anci the 
semi-pendulous branches, each carrying 
several short racemes of rose-pink flowers, 
produce a very graceful appearance. It is a 
fast grower, and an occasional shortening 
back of the branches is necessary to maintain 
a good shape. Thorough staking must also 
be practised, as all the Robinias are ex¬ 
tremely brittle and liable to be damaged by 
rough winds. 
Spiraea lindleyana on account of its 
jdeasing green foliage and large panicles of 
white flowers is always much admired. It is 
the largest growing Spiraea we have, and 
soon forms a big shrub of spreading habit ; 
but to prevent it occupying too much space 
the branches can be looped up to a stout 
stake. Little pruning need be done, but if 
the tips of the young wood die back in winter, 
these should be cut away as active growth 
commences. A new variety of much merit 
is S. Aitchinsonii, which has much darker 
foliage than the above, and flowers earlier. 
Spiraea Douglasii is well known, but it 
should be more largely planted in masses, 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Mushrooms. --It is now too late in the 
season to make up- fresh beds of these in the 
open, or indeed anywhere except in a pro¬ 
perly apipointed mushroom-house or a per¬ 
fectly frost-proof cellar. At this season the 
manure must be prepared with even greater 
care than is necessary earlier in the year. 
Too much labour can hardly be expended on 
this work of preparation, and an open shed 
in which to diy and turn the manure is at 
this season absolutely necessary. I need 
not here enter into details as to how to 
make up the beds, but to ensure success the 
proper warmth must be obtained. It is 
always safest to spawn a bed when the heat 
is declining, and from 75 deg. to 80 deg. is 
the proper temperature. To conserve the 
heat give a good covering of hay or straw 
after the beds have been “ soiled.” 
Brussels Sprouts. —Where very early sup¬ 
plies of these are in demand, a snuff of 
seed should be sown at the present time. 
When large enough to handle, prick off into 
a prepared bed of light soil in some well- - 
sheltered position, or, better still, into a 
cold frame. Savoys may be treated similarly 
where large heads are wanted, such as for 
early shows, etc., otherwise they are usually 
too large for the kitchen. 
Cucumbers. —Plants in bearing must be 
well watched to see that the fruits are not 
allowed to hang too long, or else the later 
ones will be very poor. If stood in a jug of 
clean water in a cool place Cucumbers keep* 
quite good for a week at least. 
Late Peas —Watch carefully that these 
do not suffer for want of water. A good 
drenching with liquid manure should also be 
given occasionally if it can be managed. 
General Remarks —The work just now 
consists mainly in keeping things tidy. Con¬ 
tinue earthing up such crops as require it. 
For instance, Celery and Leeks are much 
more likely to do well if the earthing up is 
done by degrees rather than leaving until the 
plants have nearly finished their growth, as 
I have heard advocated. Hand weeding is 
by far the most satisfactory method of clean- 
when one gets the full effect of the deep 
pink flower heads and the beautiful brown 
of the stems in winter. 
Clerodendron trichotomum i s one of the 
most beautiful of J apanese shrubs, and forms 
a spreading bush thickly clothed with large 
deep green leaves and red and white sweetly- 
scented flowers. On cold, heavy soils portions 
of this shrub sometimes die, so that it is 
advisable to replant the suckers which spring 
up from the roots. 
The numerous double and single varieties 
of Hibiscus syriacus are all highly orna¬ 
mental, as also are Magnolia grandiflora, 
which in cold districts is best on a wall, 
Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora, Leyces- 
teria formosa, Perovskia atriplicifolia, and 
Microglossa albescens. 
A. E. Thatchek. 
Aldenhann House Gardens, Elstree. 
ing at this season, as the autumn rains cause 
weeds turned up with a hoe to quickly take 
root again. C. Blair. 
Preston, Linlithgow. 
Hardy Fruit. 
Now is a good season to commence with 
breaks of Strawberries. Now that fruit is 
all over, and when you have decided to con¬ 
tinue them for another year, first get all the 
runners carefully cut, taking care to injure 
the foliage as little as possible. The nourish¬ 
ment derived from good foliage adds greatly 
to the strength of the plants for another 
S6cLS0Il. 
Hoe and clean the surface to admit all 
the sunshine and air to the roots, and take 
the first opportunity of giving a good soaking 
with a fairly strong mixture of liquid from 
the farmyard of three to one; it has a 
wonderful effect of assisting to plump up 
next year’s crowns. 
Where Onion quarters have been cleared 
or Potatos lifted it gives a grand oppor¬ 
tunity of trenching and preparing well the 
ground for a fresh plantation ; and by plant¬ 
ing early it allows the plants to get well 
established before winter. 
In wet and very cold localities it is pre¬ 
ferable to lay in the runners in a sheltered 
border all winter and plant in the month 
of March, not allowing any fruit for the firs! 
season. Carefully pick all the blossoms as 
they appear, and if ground is scarce a slip 
crop can be taken between the 1 rows by sowing 
Lettuces, Parsley, or transplanting winter 
Onions. It would be well to lay in an extra 
supply of runners for emergency of all tm 
different varieties. J- Fraser Smith. 
Cullen. 
Flower Garden and 
Pleasure Grounds. 
Bedding Plants. —Cuttings must now b( 
got in of many bedding plants, such as Helio 
tropes, Petiinias, Salvias, Tropaeolums 
Iresines, Verbenas, etc. Pots, pans, Qi 
OUR . . . 
Northern Gardens. 
