988 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 30, 1905. 
OUR . . . 
Northern Gardens. 
the plants are grown under the ordinary con¬ 
ditions of the intermediate house until growth 
is completed, and then placed under cool- 
house treatment, where very little water is 
necessary, the flowering season may thus be 
retarded, the flower-scapes not being suffi¬ 
ciently developed to be injured by the early 
fogs, and by placing the plants again into 
warmer conditions soon after the new year we 
are able to secure our flowers in a satisfactory 
manner. 
Fumigation practically has the same effect 
on the advancing flower-scapes. There are 
very few subjects that are liable to injury by 
the vaporisers in common use to-day, but the 
varieties of Coelogyne cristata should not be 
permitted to remain in the house during fumi¬ 
gations. I particularly draw attention to this 
fact, for in my own experience I have not 
only seen the flower-scapes destroyed, but 
whole plants completely stripped of their 
foliage. Removal from cool, resting condi¬ 
tions directly into a high forcing temperature 
must also be avoided; a gradual removal will 
be found more practical. Where plants are 
grown altogether with the cool Orchids these 
remarks do not apply, for the usual conditions 
of such plants prevents the plants flowering 
before the fog season is passed, and there is 
little possibility of injury under brighter 
spring conditions. 
C. c. alba is naturally a later-flowering 
plant, and it thus escapes much of the in¬ 
jurious effects the other varieties of the 
species are subjected to. Before closing tnis, 
my last contribution of the year, I would 
thank the proprietors and the worthy Editor 
of The Gardening World for their enter¬ 
prise in allotting a column to weekly notes 
for amateur Orchid cultivators. I trust I 
have been able to convey that there are no 
greater requirements necessary in the cultiva¬ 
tion of Orchids than are displayed in the suc¬ 
cessful culture of ordinary plants. Now that 
the days of limited supply are left behind 
there is an ample supply of home-raised 
material at hand. It is from the energy of 
the hybridists we are enabled to revolutionise 
Orchid cultivation, which has simplified the 
means of procuring the plants, and also the 
better methods of cultivation, which can only 
result in far more extensive and general culti¬ 
vation in the near future. 
H. J. Chapman. 
The Largest Vine.— A Vine now standing 
in California, which is considered the largest 
in the world, was planted in 1842 by a 
Spanish woman. Beneath its spreading 
brandies, which cover nearly half an acre", 
800 persons could find protection from the 
sun’s heat. The first election in Santa Bar¬ 
bara County under American rule was held 
beneath its ripening fruit. The Vine is of the 
Mission variety. In 1893 it bore eight tons 
of Grapes, and in 1895 over ten tens. The 
trunk of the L ine is 7ft. 8in. in circumference. 
Midland Railway Platform Gardens. —In 
the annual prize competitions organised by 
the directorate of the Midland Railway Com¬ 
pany. Eckington, on the Birmingham and 
Bristol section, and Malvern Wells this year 
share premier honours. Five Ways (Birming¬ 
ham) and Matlock Bath are bracketed to¬ 
gether for the second place, and Cardington 
and Belper are equal for the third position. 
Alcester and C'reden Hill are fourth, and 
Lenton and Hinton fifth. There are nume¬ 
rous other awards. Three hundred pounds 
were this year shared in prizes. 
Flower Garden and 
Pleasure Ground. 
Rockwork. —Amongst other extra work that 
may be advantageously undertaken during the 
winter months is that generally known as 
rockery building. Where spectacular effect is 
aimed at, it entails considerable labour and 
expense. This, however, is not necessary 
where the object is chiefly the formation of a 
suitable habitat for a collection of alpine 
plants. For this purpose it is not necessary, 
nor even desirable, to raise the bank or mound 
more than a foot or two above the general 
ground level. If more than this is desired, 
instead of raising the bank high above the 
ground it is better for the distribution of 
moisture to excavate a few feet and throw up 
the soil on either side. Pockets must be 
formed wherein to hold sufficient soil and to 
catch the rain or the water that may be 
applied by artificial means. These pockets 
should be built irregularly to avoid stiffness, 
Turfy loam is the best soil for the majority of 
rock plants, but some of them require peat, 
whilst a few others are benefited by the 
presence of a certain amount of lime. 
Conservatory and Greenhouse. 
Lilium Harrisii —These are now starting 
into growth, and must have some water, but 
for some time yet it will have to be applied 
with great care. The same advice applies to 
Tritonias and Gladiolus The Bride. 
Fuchsias. —Autumn-struck cuttings, if com¬ 
mencing to grow freely, should be potted off 
into 48-sized pots in light, rich soil, 
and given a comfortable corner near the glass. 
The pruning of old plants for specimens may 
be undertaken any time from now on to tiie 
end of January. First cut away all dead and 
weakly growths, and then cut out any remain¬ 
ing surplus shoots, and prune the others 
pretty well back. Keep rather dry, but not 
dust-dry. 
General.— -Chrysanthemums are now practi¬ 
cally over, and should be cleared away as soon 
as a stock of cuttings has been secured. The 
balls of soil should be knocked to pieces and 
used for dressing flower beds and borders. 
This will admit of such subjects as Callas, 
late Salvias, pot Roses, etc., which have been 
kept in pits or frames, being introduced to the 
conservatory or greenhouse. C. C. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
The Seed Order. —We have again got to 
the season of the year when the various seed 
merchants issue their annual catalogues. I 
cannot too strongly impress on all who have 
the ordering of seeds the importance of send¬ 
ing in their order early. By doing so every¬ 
thing is at hand when required, and no oppor¬ 
tunity is missed of getting in seeds when the 
soil is in good “ fettle.” No department is so 
much under the thumb of the ,l weather 
clerk ’ as is the vegetable section. So if at 
any time in the early spring we are favoured 
with a few dry days, we can ill afford to miss 
the chance by having carelessly omitted to 
order our seeds in time. That is only one of 
the reasons for haste in this matter. Another 
most important one is that all the best varie¬ 
ties are usually eagerly bought up, and the 
late comer must of necessity be content with 
inferior substitutes. Yet another matter that 
should have our sympathy is the serious pres¬ 
sure put upon tiie staffs in the seed shops 
when all the orders come tumbling in at the 
first sign of fine weather. This state of affairs 
does not make for efficiency, and if we some¬ 
times get our orders a little mixed we have 
only ourselves to blame if we are dilatory in 
sending m our orders. 
-New Varieties. I have always made it a 
point to give a trial to some of the new things 
sent out each season. I never, however, rely 
on these to keep up a succession, but sow a 
small quantity only, and place reliance on 
well-tried standard kinds. I have thus been 
able to test many new varieties without run¬ 
ning any risk of having gaps in the daily 
supplies for the kitchen. 
Frames. —With the present long spell of 
mild weather, young Cauliflower, Lettuce, 
etc., are making far too rapid progress. In 
quiet days the sashes should be taken right 
off, and on days when the wind is strong, tilt 
them at the back. The more fresh air, the 
better chance will the plants have when frost 
does come. Weeds also grow apace in frames, 
and the insidious slug is busy. A sharp look¬ 
out should be kejit on the latter, while the 
former should be carefully pulled out before 
gaining any size, and so ensure the plants 
getting all the light and air possible. 
Crops being forced require very careful 
airing and watering, and too much fire heat 
must be guarded against. Digging and 
manuring must continue to be one of the 
principal occupations when the weather is 
favourable. C. Blair. 
Preston, Linlithgow. 
PLANTING 
- _ for - - 
EFFECT. 
Planting in act, and in result, is a feature 
of paramount importance in the art of land¬ 
scape gardening. The well-directed practice 
of it is essential to the development of those 
aspects which nature has so kindly supplied. 
Her gifts in this respect are trees and shrubs. 
A hill is made to appear higher if its summit 
be planted, and an irregularity is given to the 
skyline. One chief use of planting is to hide 
what may be unsightly or out of place in a 
prospect, or, by a well-arranged break in the 
procession of trees, to admit some beautiful 
view or some suitable object, such as water 
or a church spire. When trees of small 
growth are of necessity used, temporary 
plants, acting as nurses, serve to promote the 
growth of-permanent plants, and also to cover 
t he ground and relieve it of low planting. 
Plants which are not indigenous should be 
sparingly used, as a profusion of these soon 
point out the hand of man. There are three 
points of importance to be determined in re¬ 
gard to groups of planting—namely, the site, 
the ground outline, and the disposing of the 
trees and shrubs. No hard and fast rule can 
be laid down in regard to planting. In one 
