144 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 29, 1908. 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
Phams* 
Amateurs in possession of a stove house or 
a warm greenhouse where the normal tem¬ 
perature is from 55 to 60 degrees will be 
well advised in having their attention drawn 
to-^he species and numerous hybrid Phaius 
that are now .pretty generally distributed. 
They are terrestrial evergreen plants, which 
should be cultivated in pots or pans, requir¬ 
ing a mixed potties; compost of fibrous loam, 
turfy peat and cl.^ped sphagnum moss.. I 
would prefer to give particulars of potting 
at the proper season, when re-potting re¬ 
quirements need attention, which is in the 
month of May, and may now be permitted to 
dTaw attention to their requirements at the 
present season, when the flower spikes are de¬ 
veloping. 
The species that are worthy of attention 
are P. grandifolius, P. Wallichii and its 
ally P. sanderianus. These plants have* ex¬ 
ceedingly robust constitutions, and produce 
large racemous scapes of flowers, which are 
most attractive and useful when the blooms 
are expanded, either for decoration subjects 
for the house, conservatory or for exhibition 
purposes at the spring shows. They are 
classed as East Indian Orchids, but they may 
be grown under much cooler conditions than 
that usually applied to the East Indian 
house, which means a stove or hothouse at 
all seasons of the year. There are two spe¬ 
cies of Phaius from Madagascar, P. tuber- 
culosus and P. Humblotii. These are not 
considered the most tractable to cultivation, 
but where they can be successfully grown 
they are most attractive and beautiful Or¬ 
chids. We find them grow and flower satis¬ 
factorily in an intermediate temperature. 
Hybrid Phaius. 
There has been a number of most beauti¬ 
ful and exceedingly desirable hybrids de¬ 
rived from the intercrossing of these two 
sections of Pihaius which are worthy of every 
consideration by amateurs. The hybrids that 
have been derived from the influence of P. 
tuberculosus-are the most plentiful. In P. 
Norman, P. Cooksonii, and P. Clive we have 
a remarkable variety of tints m colour, the 
first-mentioned varying from pale yellow to 
intense purple. The hybrids from PTHum- 
blotii are not so plentifully distributed, but 
they are even more worthy of attention than 
the tuberculosus section, being more robust ; n 
constitution and the foliage is not nearly 
so liable to become disfigured with the black 
spotting to which all Phaius are more or less 
subject. I find they grow also satisfactory 
under the same conditions as the winter¬ 
flowering Cypripediums. The P. tubercu¬ 
losus section flower during March, April and 
May, the Humblotii section during May and 
June. 
Treatment Now Required. 
The flower scapes in the whole of this 
section are now rapidly advancing and the 
plants must have every assistance that will 
tend to give satisfactory results. Place the 
plants in a position where they may have 
every benefit of the light, but discretion 
must be used to protect by shading from any 
injury likely to be caused from the direct 
rays of the sun during the hottest parts of 
the day. Placing within reasonable dis¬ 
tance of the roof glass prevents the flower 
scapes becoming unduly drawn and weakened 
to such an extent that unsatisfactory results 
are produced when the flowers become ex¬ 
panded. Care must also be taken to see that 
the plants do not suffer from want of root 
moisture, buT at the same time saturation of 
the potting compost is even more injurious 
if permitted to remain in such a condition 
for any lengthened period. The atmosphere 
should .also be now laden with moisture to 
such an extent that growing conditions may 
be maintained. Thrips and scale are the 
most troublesome insect pests. Fumigation 
at regular intervals and carefully sponging 
the foliage will keep these pests in check. 
H. J. Chapman. 
The Amateur’s Greenhouse. 
Propagating Pot Michaelmas Daisies. 
Michaelmas Daisies in pots are among the 
most useful of all plants for the autumn 
decoration of the greenhouse, and more par¬ 
ticularly if the greenhouse is a cold one. In 
such a structure they remain in bloom for 
a long while, and the colours of the flowers 
opened under glass are so bright and so 
clear that they are a revelation to those who 
see them for the first time. To have good 
plants for flowering next autumn a start 
should be made now, and this start consists 
of taking cuttings from plants growing in 
the open garden. These should be struck in 
a cold frame, like early-flowering Chrysan¬ 
themums are, potted off when rooted, and, 
in fact, treated exactly like Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, excepting that their buds need not 
be “taken” or their shoots pinched. The 
Amellus varieties, such as Framfieldii and 
Onward, make splendid pot plants, being 
dwarf and sturdy, and carrying fine, large 
flowers. 
Re-potting- Early Fuchsias. 
Old Fuchsias that were cut back and re¬ 
started as advised recently should now be 
ready for larger pots-; there must be no re¬ 
striction at the roots at this season, or a 
stunted growth, with a predilection to im¬ 
mature flowering, will be produced. What 
we want now is free, clean growth and 
healthy foliage, which will be followed by 
abundance of flowers later. The size of 
pot now tallowed must depend upon the 
amount of growth present and the number 
of the -roots. However, I always advise 
pots two sizes larger at this season, as growth 
is, or should be, extremely rapid, and .there 
is something else to do at this time of year 
besides dancing attendance on Fuchsias. Use 
a compost of fibrous loam two parts, leaf 
mould one part, dried and powdered horse- 
dung half a part, and half a part of coarse 
sand. Firm the soil well round the edges 
of the pots, but do not make the bulk of the 
compost unduly firm. Fuchsias require 
plenty of moisture in the atmosphere and 
at the roots., and thrive best in partial shade. 
Drought at the roots or in the atmosphere 
is generally followed by bud-dropping. 
Taking Panicum Cuttings. 
A greenhouse which is lacking in edging 
plants, or, what is worse-, has old and shabby 
edging plants, is a reflection on its owner. 
Never mind if you have only one kind of 
edging plant; have plenty of that; and if 
the one kind is the pretty and popular Pani¬ 
cum variegat-im, then your one “ewe lamb ” 
will be far from-being a black sheep. Plants 
which have borne the brunt of the winter 
fray will now be looking somewhat melan¬ 
choly, and a batch of cuttings should be put 
in without delay, to displace them. Cut¬ 
tings four inches long will root at this 
season as well as those only two inches, and 
as the former make plants much the quicker 
they should be given the preference. Put 
plenty of silver sand on the surface soil of 
the cut:ing pots, and insert the cuttings an 
inch or so apart all over it. Keep the soil 
and the cuttings well moistened, and root¬ 
ing will soon take place. 
Dividing Musk. 
The old-fashioned Musk is a very useful 
and sweet edging plant, and if taken in hand 
now a stock may be worked up without diffi¬ 
culty. A simple w.ay of increase is to pull 
the old plants into quarters with the fingers, 
and then pot the -divisions separately in 
small pots. Where there is only a plant 
or two in stock, and it is desired to make 
many, shake away all the old soil and pick 
out the white, fleshy roots. These may be 
cut into pieces an inch or so long, and 
planted an inch apart in pots or pans of 
sandy, soil. If placed in three inch pots 
straightway there will be no need for re¬ 
potting if the plants, are to be used for edg- 
.ing. This is a moisture and sun-loving 
plant, but does not object to some shade. 
Propagating Epiphyllums. 
The propagation of Epiphyllums by graft¬ 
ing is one of the most fascinating pursuits 
in gardening, but the raising of . the stocks, 
etc. is generally more bother than the ama¬ 
teur cares to undertake. There .is, however, 
nothing troublesome about propagating these 
handsome and winter-flowering Cacti by 
cuttings, and I can thoroughly recommend 
this system to any reader who has an old 
plant and would fain have young ones. The 
cuttings are made of the ends of the branches, 
and a portion with one fork or a pair of 
forks should be selected. I have seen cut¬ 
tings made of the single flat leaves or phvl- 
lodes, but as a faranch with a once or twice 
-forked end will strike as 'readily as a 
Geranium cutting, there is no need to waste 
time with leaves. I have even struck such 
branches when they have been carrying well 
coloured flower buds, and every flower has 
opened, which will go far to prove how 
easy the task is. Cut the branches square 
across at the base, insert them round the 
edge of a pot filled with very sandy soil, 
and they will root themselves, provided the 
soil is kept only moderately moist. . 
East Lothian Stocks. 
Considering the beauty and fragrance of 
these fine- autumn - and winter-flowering 
plants, their neglect at the hands of gar¬ 
deners of all sections seems very strange. 
They are just splendid for the unheated 
greenhouse, and every reader who owns such 
a structure should sow a packet of seeds; 
now. As everybody knows all about raising 
Ten-week Stocks, and these require the same 
treatment, I need not go into details of sow¬ 
ing. One point of difference is, however, 
important, and that is to remove the plants 
to cool quarters as soon as they have made 
the third or true leaf. The plants must, be 
potted on progressively through the spring 
and summer, and should flower in the win 
ter in five-inch or six-inch pots. 
SUNNYSIDE. 
-4~M- 
Royal Horticultural Society. 
The next Fruit and Flower Show of thi 
Royal Horticultural Society will be heh 
on Tuesday, March 3rd, in the Society. 
Hall, Vincent Square, London, S.W. / 
lecture on “Bulbous Plants of New Zea 
land ” will be given by Mr. E. White 
At the annual general meeting, of the Sc 
ciety, held on' Tuesday, February nth 
ninety-six new Fellows were electee 
among them being the Marquis of Ailcs 
bury, Earl Cairns, Countess Cairns, th 
Countess of Carnarvon, Lady A. Paget 
Lady Palmer, Lady Schuster, Lad 
Rivers Wilson, and Sir A. W. Legard 
making a total of one hundred an 
ninety-two elected since the beginning c 
the present year. On Marcfi the 5th an 
6th the Society will hold an exhibition c 
colonial grown fruit and vegetables, bot 
fresh and preserved. Fellows will be a< 
mitted at 1 p.m. on the 5th, and at io a.n 
on the 6th. The exhibition will be ope 
to the public on payment of 2 s. 6d. froi 
2 to 6 p.m. on the 5th, and on payment 1 
is. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 6tl 
The Band of the King’s Colonials wi 
perform each day. 
