April 4, 1908. 
234 THE GARDENING WORLD. 
The Amateur’s Greenhouse. 
A Few Good Annuals. 
These play a not unimportant part in the 
decoration of the amateur’s greenhouse dui- 
mg summer and autumn, although the pro¬ 
fessional cares little for such things. 
Amongst the best may be mentioned 
Schizanthus and Torenias, whilst we must 
not forget that old favourite the ..Cockscomb 
(Celosia cristata), whose massive heads of 
crimson are both curious and beautiful, ar d 
form a fine relief to foliage plants. The 
secret of success with these is a steady 
growth and abundance of air and light to 
prevent “legginess.” If not already done, 
seeds may be sown at once. 
Pfopag-atmg Bouvai’dias. 
Those who grow these beautiful hard- 
wooded plants may increase their stock at 
any time during the spring by means of cut¬ 
tings of the young wood taken about three 
or four inches in length and. severed just 
beneath a joint, or the? slips may be taken 
with a heel of the old wood. Several may 
be inserted round the side of a pot of sandy 
soil and struck in brisk bottom heat. When 
they have rooted, pot off singly into thumb- 
pots, still keeping them in a genial atmo¬ 
sphere. When the roots reach the sides of 
the pots, it is a sign that they require larger 
ones, and this treatment should be con¬ 
tinued, at the same time “ pinching back ” 
the young plants judiciously to ensure each 
having seven, or eight heads, to be crowned 
later on with a cluster of dainty blossoms. 
Rose Pests in the Greenhouse. 
Constant syringing amongst the pot Roses 
should now be indulged ; n to ward off the 
attacks of red spider and a careful scrutiny 
maintained for that pest, the Rose maggot. 
Fortunately, this latter is somewhat easily 
detected, and when the young leaves curl up 
unaccountably, or the two halves join to-' 
gether as though by some adhesive suu- 
stance, rest assured that “ master maggot” 
has there taken up his abode.. Lose no time 
in dislodging and destroy’ng him or hi 
will soon find his way to the flower buds. 
Carefully avoid overcrowding and place the 
pots as near the glass as possible, , for 
Roses require plenty of light and air to 
bring them to perfection. 
Mildew; Its Cause and Cure. 
When Roses are subjected to rapid changes 
of temperature (and w’th the climatic con¬ 
ditions prevailing at the time cf writing 
this is siniewhat difficult to avoid, they are 
liable to this scourge, and when this occurs 
the attested parts should be thickly sprinkled 
with powdered sulphur. This should be 
done whilst the foliage is damp ; the powder 
will then adhere, and next day may be 
rinsed off by means of the ever-useful 
syringe. 
Primula sirrersois. 
No greenhouse would be complete without 
some of these useful plants for autumn and 
winter flowering, and the present is a good 
time to sow seed for that purpose. Fill a 
shallow pan with compost consisting of two 
parts finely-sifted leaf mould and one part 
each of loam and silver sand. Press the 
soil firmly and thoroughly moisten by im¬ 
mersing the pan up> to its rim in water for 
a time. Allow this to drain well and sow 
the seed very thinly. Then cover the pan 
with a sheet of whitewashed glass to afford 
partial shade and prevent evaporation. This, 
should be occasionally wiped dry, and if the 
seed has been sown sparsely enough, the 
seedlings may remain in the pan until large 
enough to prick off into thumbs. Should 
any of them show signs of damping off, re¬ 
move the survivors at once into fresh com¬ 
post and keep shaded for a few days. Re¬ 
move later on by degrees to the cold frame 
to ensure a sturdy and robust growth. 
The Treatment of LMiums. 
; Any Liliums, such as longiflqrum, land- 
folium or auratum, that have been potted 
and plunged outside in ashes (the best 
method) to ensure root formation should 
now, if this has not already been done, be 
removed to the greenhouse, where they will' 
soon make rapid growth. Of auratum,.the 
variety known, as auratum rubro-vittatum 
is, by far the most handsome, with its shell¬ 
like white flowers, spotted with crimson ar.d 
a band of the same colour running down the 
centre of each petal. The bulbs are some¬ 
what smaller than the type and cost more, 
but they justify the extra expenditure. 
A mulching of good, rich soil may now 
be given, leaving rcom, however, for a fur¬ 
ther supply when the flower buds show. 
When rot absolutely necessary (as for show 
or exhibition purposes) it is better not to 
over-feed Liliums with strong artificial 
fertilisers, as I .am of opinion that {.his is 
one of the reasons why so many of the im¬ 
ported bulbs become useless after one season 
of pot culture. 
Hydrangea hortensis. 
The best Hydrangeas for the greenhouse 
are those having but one huge truss of blos¬ 
soms on a single stem, and to procure these 
it is necessary to take cuttings annually, 
and next year’s supply may be taken in hand 
now. Select young shoots that are not show¬ 
ing for bloom, cut below a joint, and strip 
off the bottommost leaves. Insert singly in 
small pots and plunge in the propagator. 
They will soon strike, and as they fill the 
pot; with roots must be transferred to larger 
ones. Ripen during August and September 
by placing outside on slates or ashes. These 
form better plants than autumn struck cut¬ 
tings, and do not require the space of the 
bush specimens we see in tubs or. boxes. 
1 hese flowers, it is said, assume a bluish 
tinge if alum is added to the water. 
-G. A. F. 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
iYiiltiSrsia vcsillaria. 
There .are few Orchids that make a finer 
display than the varieties of M. vex-illaria 
when in. bloom. They '.are well suited for 
amateur cultivators' that can maintain an 
intermediate bouse temperature throughout 
the •year-’-thait 'is, -normal conditions'of about 
55 degrees during the winter months. They 
are often classed as ocol-bouse Orchids, but 
although they are very well suited among 
the Odomtogilossoms through the summer 
months, I consider they require warmer and 
somewhat drier conditions during the win¬ 
ter, at which period they are in a more or 
less active state of growth. At the present 
season, the piants .are at the stage when the 
new pseudo-bulb commences to .form at the 
blase of the developing growth; the flower- 
spikes will also be making their appearance; 
At this -stage the new reefs are produced, and 
any re-potitdng requirements should be at¬ 
tended to at this stage, or as soon as the 
roofs are observed being emitted from the 
base of the new growths. 
Re-potting-. 
In re-potting the plants may be carefully 
turned out of the pots, shaking away the 
potting 'Cam-post. When this has been re¬ 
moved, any dead roots and decaying matter 
about the 'base of the plants should be cut 
away. The pots selected should be amply 
large to contain the pl-ant comfortably ; fill 
to about cne-hialf their depth with clean 
drainage. Either broken- crocks or chopped 
bracken 'roots a,re suitable for this purnose. 
The -potting compost may consist of about 
equal parts of fibrous peat, broken (drv) 
leaves and chopped sphagnum moss. Suffi¬ 
cient broken crocks or rough sand should 
be mixed with the. compost to render the 
whole porous. The compost should be 
pressed firm but not hard about the roots of 
the plants, and when comgleted ft should t 
so arranged that it is mounding slight 
to the centre. Take care not to bury tl 
base of the developing growth with the po 
hi ng compost, _or there will be a danger c 
damping, should there by any chance be a 
excessive accumulation of moisture abou 
them.. 
After Treatment. 
As soon as re-potting is completed vatc 
• with rain water poured through a med 
rafely coarse rose on the water-can, wettin 
the compost through. The plants should 1 
staged in a position reasonably close to tl 
glass, buit must be carefully shaded fro; 
even glaring light unt’l the roots becom 
established in the new compost. The atm. 
sphere should also be retained in a met 
condition about the plants, and the fiocr 
staging and space between the pot-s shoul 
be frequently damped when the outside go: 
ditions are favourable. In bright weatht 
light spraying overhead will be found ben- 
ficia.1, but any overhead syringing should 1 
done 'sufficiently early in the day to perm 
of the foliage becoming dry before the co 
evening temperatures are reached. 
Fine Varieties. 
There are several varieties among M. vexi 
laria, the most beautiful of al.l being i 
v. Mamoria G. D. Owen. This variety h. 
a blotch in the centre that represents a mot 
on the wing. It is a most rare, and thus c 
expensive, plant. The beautiful hybrid 1 
bleuiarta may be -grown under the same co: 
ditions as M. vexillaria. It is a charmir 
plant, cf vigorous constitution, and is wort; 
of every consideration. 
Insect Pests. 
The greatest pests to be contended vi’ 
in this class of plants are the small yello 
Thrips. Dipping in X.L. All wash is n 
at all a bad plan a few days previously 
re-potting. I would advise spraying wi 
this wash at regular intervals. Select 
bright day for the purpose, so that tl 
foliage may become dry within a reasonab 
time. We practice this method in all 01 
houses, and it proves most effectual in kee: 
ing all insect pests in check. 
H. J. Chapman. 
- ^4 - 
Colours and Scents of Flowers. 
Dr. Corbett recently lectured very ii 
terestingly before the members of lb 
Doncaster Gardeners’ and Amateur Ga 
deners’ Mutual Improvement Society 0 
“ The Colours and Scents of Flowers. 
Insects learned by experience, he saic 
that bright colours meant the food the 
wanted. In the close competition th; 
went on, generation after generation wer 
on producing brightly coloured whorl 
and leaves would in the natural cours 
become more and more attractive 
Flowers, in their long course of develop 
ment, had discovered that it was advi: 
able to throw out some bait, and many c 
them secreted little sweet drops of liquid 
and, if they noticed, in all -specialise 
flowers, the colour and scent led toward 
the nectary, and past the reproductiv 
organs en route. In all sweet-scente 
flowers the sweet scents meant swe< 
honey. Insects did not care for the seer 
itself; but they had learned that wher 
there was sweet scent there was hone} 
Colour and scent in flowers were pure ac 
vertisements, but there were genuine ac 
vertisements and fraudulent ones i 
flowers as well as in human affairs. Som 
flowers were great swindlers. They a 
tracted insects with their most beautifr 
colours, and they provided no nectar; an 
one of the greatest offenders was the cori 
field Poppy. 
