July 8, 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
541 
jwer, closing about 4 p m., with abundance 
r moisture. 
Grapes Scalding. —This is of frequent 
■currence with that most excellent late 
hriety Lady Downest, and while the berries 
L, stoning a little ventilation should be 
.ft on during the night, and little or no 
amping done in the house until near mul- 
av, and deferring the final damping down 
or the day until 6 p.m. or even half an hour 
liter should the structure be in a western 
spect and the sun full on, as it tends to 
also the temperature too high, and the 
loisture settles on the berry when closed so 
arly as 4 p.m., ending in scalding. Very 
tide panes of glass may need a thin shade: 
or about three weeks. 
Outdoor. 
Current Remarks —Red spider is one of 
he worst enemies- to fruit trees, whether 
aider glass or outside, and unless the syringe 
br garden engine be brought into use two or 
liree times each week among trees against 
walls the pest is sure to gain a footing, doing 
his about 5 p.m. on bright days. Apply the 
water with some force to the under parts of 
he foliage, but avoid ribboning it. Trees 
iccupying hot positions naturally are the first 
o get attacked, but this pest is often found 
m trees growing on north walls, therefore 
ake a survey around the garden and endea¬ 
vour to dislodge them in as short a time as 
possible, soapy water from the wash-tub being 
i capital insecticide for spider. Give the 
final thinning to the Peach and Nectarine, or 
any other fruit it is wishful to increase the 
size of, as many Apples in these gardens are 
crowded with fruit, such as Lord Grosvenor, 
Peasgood’s, Baumann’s Red Reinette, and 
Lane’s Prince Albert, which, if left as they 
are, would be very small. Orchard trees are 
not overdone with fruit, although they flowered 
abundantly, the maggot playing havoc with 
the blossom, consequently the caterpillar has 
I left its mark on the foliage badly where 
spraying was neglected. "Keep the surface 
ground constantly hoed among fruit trees and 
bushes of all kinds, and inspect all trees 
planted last season. Some may have got 
rocked to and fro with the winds, or become 
dry at the root, while others may be getting 
punished with tight ligatures, either one 
giving a check which a few minutes’ work 
would have remedied. 
Jomes Mayxe. 
Bicton Gardens, Devonshire. 
Hardy Herbaceous Border. 
Pinks. —The cuttings or pipings of these 
can now be inserted, and on heavy soil it. is a 
good plan to strike a few annually to fill up 
any vacancies which may occur, as these 
sometimes die off in winter, especially if the 
roots become stagnated. When grown, as one 
often sees them in cottagers’ gardens, over the 
stones or other material along the paths, 
there are few better plants for edging. When 
planted in such a position a. good drainage is 
naturally assured, and the evergreen foliage 
is always pleasing. The cuttings should be 
of medium length, with the lower leaves taken 
off and a clean cut made just below a joint. 
Insert in a light sandy compost, either in 
pots, boxes, or in a frame, and keep- close for 
a few days, giving a damp over frequently. 
The plants should be shaded on very hot 
clays. 
Primroses and Polyanthus. —Pew spring 
flowers are more charming than these, and it 
is advisable to obtain a packet of the best 
seed annually so as to get the improved 
colours. These can now be sown in the open 
for flowering next spring. Prepare a piece of 
ground by raking it down finely, and scatter 
the seed thinly over the surface. Rake over, 
and give a good damping if the weather be 
dry. When these are sufficiently large enough 
to handle it is advisable to give them a good 
thinning out ; what are taken out can be re¬ 
planted round the shrubberies or wherever 
they are to flower. 
Sweet Peas. —When one has not sufficient 
room to grow these in a separate position 
an excellent place will be found in the back 
of the hardy flower borders, but a good mulch¬ 
ing should now be given if possible, and 
nothing is better than long stable litter for 
the purpose. The seed pods should be picked 
off as quickly as they are formed, and in dry 
weather give good soakings of weak soot 
water, which is one of the best foods for im¬ 
proving the colour of the flowers. 
1 A. E. T. 
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v _-—> 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Mignonette. — To ensure having strong 
many-branched plants for flowering in the 
greenhouse next autumn and early winter, 
seed should now be sown of such well-known 
robust varieties as Machet and Carters Per¬ 
fection. I invariably sow in batches of one 
dozen in 6-in. pots, allowing an interval of 
about ten days between the sowing to provide 
a continuousi supply. The compost should con¬ 
sist of two parts friable loam to one each of 
.leaf soil and old cow manure, adding a little 
wood ashes, sand, mortar rubble, and cliai- 
coal. Ram fairly firm in the pot, and sow a 
pinch of seed in each, and cover slightly with 
fine sifted soil. Place in a frame and keep 
shaded and moist, and when the seedlings are 
large enough to handle draw out the weakest, 
leaving five of the best plants. Stake neatly 
before they fall about, and when well rooted 
give weekly applications of manure water. 
A light syringing morning and evening will 
promote healthy growth and deter insect-. 
Malmaison Carnations. — \- on 
of flower make preparations for layering, foi 
it is important that this be performed early, 
in order that strong plants may be built up 
before winter. A frame t iat lias been re¬ 
cently utilised for growing Cucumbers or 
Carrots will answer well. Dig over the oil 
and add a little more fairly rich for layering 
into. The Malmaisons should be planted 
fairly deep, so that the layers may be readily 
laid down without risk of splitting them off. 
The process of layering is too well known to 
need describing in these notes. Above all 
things, avoid a close atmosphere. Air should 
be admitted freely from early morning until 
three o’clock p.m., when the frame should be 
closed and syringed or watered. 
Ventilation. —a close, stagnant atmo¬ 
sphere must be avoided at this time in all 
glasshouses ; indeed, with the exception of 
the stovehouse, some air may well be left on 
all night as well as day, though, of course, 
reducing it according to the state of the 
weather. Fire heat may be dispensed with in 
most of the structures, thus economising coal 
and making healthier conditions for the 
plants contained in them. K. M. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 
Bamboos. —These are among the most 
ornamental of all evergreen shrubs, and when 
their value becomes more generally known it 
is pretty certain that they will be very widely 
grown and appreciated. The best results are, 
of course, obtained when one has a stream or 
pond of water by which to plant them, but 
failing this they can be cultivated with ex¬ 
cellent results in the shrubbery or as speci¬ 
mens on grass. Their cultivation is simple, 
but when planting one should select a posi¬ 
tion which is sheltered from cold winds, 
though full exposure to the sun is desirable. 
A suitable soil will consist of good turfy loam 
and well-rotted cow manure, an ingredient 
which they much like. Plenty of moisture 
should be given at the roots, and occasionally 
during the summer months a thorough soak¬ 
ing of diluted farmyard manure water, as 
they are gross feeders, and respond well to 
liberal treatment. At this time pf year it is 
a good plan to give a good mulching of cow 
manjuxe, which, in addition to feeding, keeps 
the soil moist around them. 
Zeiiobia speciosa. — For growing ill com¬ 
pany with Rhododendrons or other shrubs 
which prefer soil of a peaty nature this is a 
most desirable subject, and during the pre¬ 
sent month is one of the most- interesting and 
beautiful of American shrubs. The flowers 
are pure white, and much resemble the Lily 
of the Valley, though several times larger, 
and are produced in large quantities when the 
shrub becomes established. The variety pul- 
verulenta is also worthy of inclusion, the 
whole of the plant being clothed with a waxy 
substance of a pale grey colour, and the 
flowers are larger than those of the species. 
A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldenbam House Gardens. Elstree. 
Orchids. 
Autumn-flowering Cattleyas. —This sec¬ 
tion of Cattleya is perhaps the most useful of 
the genus, especially so where there is a great 
demand for cut flowers for decorative pur¬ 
poses through the months of October- and 
November. These comprise some of the 
commonest kinds, and as they are annually 
extensively imported, they may be pro- 
