898 
results? Sufficient water, in my opinion, 
should be given to enable the plants to retain 
the normal condition of the foliage and 
pseudo-bulbs. 
O. concolor is another useful and free- 
flowering plant, which thrives best when 
grown at the warm end, if possible, in a 
racist position of the Odontoglossum or cool 
house, using a compost as above advised. 
0 cheirophorum produces its bright clusters 
.of yellow flowers in mid-winter ; it is of minia¬ 
ture structure, and is best grown in clusters of 
several plants together in shallow pans. It 
thrives well in the Odontoglossum house con¬ 
ditions during the warm months of the year, 
but should be removed to the cool inter¬ 
mediate house during the cool winter months, 
as it is practically in an active state of growth 
during the dullest season of the year. 0. 
ornithorhynclrum is another species which is 
not so extensively cultivated as it was a few 
years ago as its merits deserve. It does well 
under the same conditions as the Odonto- 
glossums, and produces its racemes of rosy 
pink flowers in winter and early spring. The 
variety 0. o. album is one of the most attrac¬ 
tive Orchids when well cultivated, producing 
scapes of ivory white flowers upwards of 3ft. in 
length. The constitution does not appear to 
be so robust as the typical form. I find that 
it does best when grown altogether at the cool 
end of the intermediate house in a compost of 
about equal portions of fibrous peat and 
chopped sphagnum moss. 
H. J. Chapman. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 
Rose Cuttings. —Many varieties of Roses, 
both climbing and dwarf kinds, succeed well 
when grown upon their own roots, and where 
it is desired to increase the stock of these the 
cuttings can now be inserted. Although they 
are quite hardy, it is advisable when selecting 
a site to choose one which is open to the sun 
but sheltered from cold winds, so that the foot 
of a hedge on the south side will be a good 
position. Any good garden soil is suitable, 
and the surface should be forked over, giving 
a dressing at the same time of sharp sand. 
When getting the wood for making into cut¬ 
tings, that of the current year’s growth should 
be selected, which is firm, but neither too 
small nor too large, and each cutting, should 
b? about 9in. in length. Cut with a sharp 
knife close up to a joint, and insert with a 
wooden dibber, pressing the soil firmly round 
the base, and leave about 4in. of the cutting 
above the soil. Label each sort as completed, 
a good distance apart being 9in. each way, and 
when the whole are inserted give another 
dressing of sand to the surface. In very severe 
weather it is advisable to give a covering of 
bracken or litter, especially to the bush varie¬ 
ties, which preserves the upper part of the 
cutting and prevents the soil from becoming 
frozen hard. 
General Work. —The transplanting of de¬ 
ciduous trees and shrubs should be pushed 
forward without delay, as the weather which 
we are now experiencing could not be better, 
and the soil is in an excellent, moist condi¬ 
tion. just suitable for the encouragement of 
new root action. Ihe leaves are practically 
all down now, and the work of collecting them 
should be completed as soon as possible before 
We experience rough winds, which make it 
difficult to gather them all up. The supports 
of the various shrubs should also receive 
attention, and where the stakes have become 
too old to be relied upon these should be 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
burnt and new ones applied. The ties should 
also be gone round and loosened if they have 
become too tight with the swelling of the bark. 
Ash stakes are the most suitable for the pur¬ 
pose, as they last longer, are very tough, and 
are not infested with the coral spot disease, 
which in many cases proves fatal to shrubs 
when it obtains a firm hold. 
A. E .Thatcher. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Flower Garden and 
Pleasure Ground. 
Tea Roses. —In the event of severe frost 
setting in, these should have some dry, loose 
material, such as wheat straw or bracken 
fern shaken loosely in among the plants. 
Tim will protect them, and still allow the 
admission of air, which is necessary to the 
future welfare of the plants. 
Turfing. —Where any alterations or im¬ 
provements are contemplated, it will be well 
to push them forward now. This is especially 
desirable where turf has to be laid, as this 
work cannot be done during severe weather 
In lifting and relaying turf m patches to level 
up hollows in a lawn be careful not to level 
up with soil richer than that on the lawn 
Generally, or a too-luxurious growth will be 
the result, and the lawn will have a patchy 
appearance. 
General.— xVll leaves and litter must now 
be cleaned up in ©very nook and cranny, and 
if this is done, and tidiness maintained, it 
will in part atone for the lack of the gay 
colours of the more favoured seasons. This 
is by no means a bad time to re-label many 
plants, as spring brings its own work with it. 
This raises the vexed question of labels. 
Their name is legion, each, I daresay, having 
some merit of its own. I am partial to the 
Acme Label Rest with wooden labels ; the 
rests are made of twisted stout galvanised 
wire, and are practically indestructible, whilst 
the wooden labels can be renewed every two 
years in tlie case of permanent subjects. The 
rests can be had in three sizes. 
Conservatory’ and Greenhouse. 
Mums.—As these go out of bloom, they 
must be cut down and placed in some cool, 
li<rht structure, such as a Peach house, to 
ensure the healthy development of cuttings , 
good results are impossible from drawn, serni- 
blanclied cuttings. 
Hydrangeas. —Where these are grown into 
specimens they can be conveniently potted on 
now, using a compost of, say, three parts 
loam, one part horse droppings, with a dash 
of bonemeal and sand. TV ater very spaniig y 
till growth commences in spring. 
Deutzia gracilis. —If not already done, 
these should be potted on where necessary, 
using a compost similar to that advised tor 
specimen Hydrangeas. Specimens should 
have some of the surface soil removed, and get 
a top dressing somewhat richer than that ad¬ 
vised for potting. Stand part of the plants in 
a shed or deep frame, and place a portion in 
the greenhouse as room becomes available. 
November 25, 1905. 
Bro. Samuel Hackney, of Burslem, the Most 
Worthy Grand Master of the British Order of 
Ancient Free Gardeners’ Friendly Society, 
became W.M. of the Vine Lodge, Burslem, in 
1892, after which he became in turn district 
delegate, district master, and district secre¬ 
tary. He possesses many evidences of the 
appreciation with which his services to the 
lodge and district were rewarded before he 
attained the highest position in the Order. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Forcing Rhubarb. —if tlie roots were dug 
up and left exposed to the weather, as advised 
some time ago, they will the more easily be 
forced into' growth now. Many plans are tried 
to have this useful and wholesome vegetable 
as early as possible. In many places it takes 
considerable ingenuity to plan a suitable 
position in which it can, successfully and 
quickly, be get ready for the kitchen. Very 
strong heat is not only unnecessary, but harm¬ 
ful, and the very best Rhubarb is produced 
where a steady genial temperature can be 
maintained. While this is so, I have often 
raised splendid produce by making up a bed 
near the boiler. If this bed is so arranged 
that a few mats or sacks can be erected over 
it, and the roots never allowed to suffer from 
want cf water, it is wonderful how quickly the 
stalks develop. In this position tlie heat has 
necessarily to be steady, and so the Rhubarb 
benefits. It is also possible at times to raise 
good Rhubarb under stages in glasshouses. 
Seakale. —This can be forced in the same 
positions as recommended for Rhubarb, but 
it requires much closer attention. The best 
produce is had by gentle forcing, but, given 
good, strong, well-ripened crowns, it is 
astonishing how quickly it can be had fit for 
use. Seakale can also be successfully forced 
in boxes or pots. By using two boxes of 
exactly the same size—the one to hold the 
Toots and the other to invert over them—good 
stuff can be raised with comparatively little 
trouble. Whichever method is employed, the 
greatest care must be exercised to exclude the 
light, or the stalks will have that purple tinge 
that looks so hideous when cooked. 
General Work. —Continue to keep every¬ 
thing as tidy as possible. In windy weather 
leaves are blown all over the kitchen garden, 
and not only look untidy, but act as shelter 
for damp and vermin. In suitable weather 
any improvements or alterations must, be 
pushed forward. It is a good time in which 
to make new walks or to repair and renew old 
■ones where necessary. If not- already done, 
it is important now to have up crops of 
Parsnips, Salsify, and Scorzonera. Trim off 
the tops and store in sand in a cool shed. 
While some maintain that the Parsnip loses 
flavour if lifted and stored as recommended, 
in our northern climate We would be very apt 
to lose not- only the flavour, hut the whole 
crop if we left them in the ground. 
C. Blair. 
Preston, Linlithgow. 
OUR . . . 
Northern Gardens. 
