April ii, 1908. 
250 THE GARDENING WORLD. 
The Amateur’s Greenhouse. 
Flowers for Easter. 
Flowers, especially white blossoms, are 
always in great demand for Easter decora¬ 
tions, and few, indeed, are more suitable for 
this purpose than the beautiful Arum Lilies 
(Richardda africana). These should now be 
given a judicious feeding with liquid 
manure. They are rare feeders, these 
Arums; indeed, some gardeners grow them 
in a compost of two parts light loam to one 
part of well-matured and finely-pulverised 
cow manure. Those in search of novelty 
should not fail to get the yellow variety with 
spotted leaves, which has been lately intro¬ 
duced. They may be increased at almost 
any time from the suckers they produce 
freely. Spring is the best time for this 
operation, as the young plants then have 
time to become well established for bloom¬ 
ing another season. 
A Neglected Plant. 
Few, indeed, of us have not in some 
damp corner of the herbaceous border some 
clumps of that fine old perennial Solomon’s 
Seal (Poliyigonum-multiflorum), yet how few 
seem to be aware that this graceful and 
chaste-looking plant, with its pale green 
leaves and pendulous creamy-white flowers 
is eminently suited for forcing; and the 
crowns raised in autumn and potted in good 
rich soil may be plunged in the cold frame 
and brought into the greenhouse about 
Christmas. Subjected to its genial warmth, 
they soon repay for the time and trouble 
expended, and suffer little by comparison 
with the Dielytras, Spiraeas, and other usual 
occupants of the amateur’s greenhouse. 
Sunshine and Shade. 
The sun is now bearing real power during 
the day, and the enthusiast must be think¬ 
ing of guarding bis treasures from its fierce 
rays. Blinds should be overhauled and pre¬ 
pared in readiness for the time when they 
will be required, and the glass painted with 
one or other of the many preparations made 
for the purpose. That known as Summer 
Cloud is perhaps as good as any, its pale 
green tint being by no means displeasing. 
Some amateurs use flour and water, others 
the common whiting, and to prevent the lat¬ 
ter being washed off by the rain, we may 
take a hint from the professional, and by 
adding oil to the mixture, cause it to with¬ 
stand the heaviest of summer showers. 
A Beautiful Climber. 
All climbing plants should now have 
their new growths carefully tied up, and 
any weak ones cut out, the operator keeping 
a sharp look out for insect pests. The white 
Hoy-a carnosa, or as it is often called, the 
Wax-flower, should receive attention in these 
respects, and looks well if trained to wires 
below the roof. It is of fairly easy culture 
in any moderate house, and does well planted 
in the border in a mixture of peat and loam. 
Cuttings may be taken and struck under a 
bell-glass, or it may be propagated by means 
of layers. It is a great favourite with ama¬ 
teurs, its rich foliage and the wax-like 
trusses of flowers, from which it derives its 
name, being much admired. 
Amongst the Bulbs. 
Narcissi in variety are yet making a fine 
show in the greenhouse, and we shall do well 
to take note of those with which we have 
had the greatest success. It is a noteworthy 
foot that some varieties which do best in 
the flower garden do not realise expectations 
when forced into early bloom. This is 
mostly the case wiith those whose flowers, 
though perhaps beautiful, are of a flimsy 
and thin nature, and these should be omitted 
when making a list for next season’s guid¬ 
ance, and only those included which produce 
large flowers of good substance. Narcissus 
obvallaris (The Tenby Daffodil) is admirable 
for forcing, as evidenced by the quantities 
of cut bloom exposed for sale, whilst the 
Polyanthus Narcissi find favour by reason 
of their fragrance. N. poeticus ornatus. 
Early Paper White, and the Double Roman 
are also excellent. 
Camellia Buds Dropping Off. 
Many complaints have been made by ama¬ 
teurs of Camellia buds falling off ere they 
expand. This is mostly caused by a too-dry 
atmosphere, injudicious watering, or faulty 
potting. In the latter case the roots become 
matted together, ajnd the water runs through 
without thoroughly saturating the soil. See 
that the moisture reaches every part of the 
roots, and supply them liberally, especially 
during the flowering period. The Camellias 
do well if planted in the border, but in the 
ordinary amateur’s greenhouse it is more 
convenient to have smaller specimens in 
large pots or tubs, as they can then be moved 
from place to place as desired. 
Miscellaneous. 
Fumigate Cinerarias, Calceolarias, etc., 
that are infested with greenfly, or, if pre¬ 
ferred, apply insecticide with a brush. Cut 
back Azaleas, Deutzias, etc., that have 
finished flowering, and repot them when they 
commence to maxe fresh growth. Examine 
rooted cuttings and young plants, and pot 
on as necessary to ensure a steady growth. 
Syringe frequently, but, where possible, 
avoid wetting the blossoms. Guard against 
draughts and sudden changes of tempera¬ 
ture, open the ventilators by degrees, and 
close in the same manner. 
G. A. F. 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
Cool House Orchids. 
Oncidium macrarrthum, O. superibicus, O. 
serratum, 0. lnme.lligerum, and others of 
this class, that produce, at the present season 
of the year, elongated flower scapes, should 
have every attention from amateurs. They 
grow well under-the same treatment as that 
afforded to Odontoglossum crispum and the 
Masdevallias, producing their flowers dur¬ 
ing the late spring, summer and autumn. 
They are not only beautiful subjects in our 
houses,_ but they are exceedingly useful for 
exhibition purposes. 
At the present season the flower scapes are 
developing. If trained along the full longi¬ 
tudinal leqgth of the scape it is remarkable 
the distance these scapes reach where plants 
are strong and in good condition. 1 find a 
better plan, and one that is usually a more 
satisfactory method, is to trail the flower 
scapes around a few neat sticks stuck into the 
pot. I thiak where the spikes are tied down 
in this way the flower bracts are more freely 
produced from the nodes on the main flower 
scape, and if done in time', that is to say, 
before the flowers expand, they are far more 
effective and serviceable for any purpose m 
which they may V used. As a rule I find 
that this class of Oncidiums do not like too 
much light, and they certaiqly do best where 
they are shado.ved from the light during the 
brightest parts of the day. Plenty of root 
moisture should now be afforded and every 
encouragement given to develop both growth 
and flower buds. 
Repotting'. 
In attending to any repotting requirements 
roots will be found to be in an active state at 
the present season. I do not advocate repot¬ 
ting of the O. macranthum section more 
frequently than .is absolutely necessary. 
Where the moss has become decayed on the 
surface of the potting compost, it should be 
carefully removed and replaced with grow¬ 
ing material at the present time, hut should 
repotting 'be necessary it is best to leave 
this matter until the plants have passed out 
of flower, should they be nearing the flower¬ 
ing state. Afford ample drainage where ie 
potting is done. The most suitable compos' 
we find, is equal portions of fibrous peat an 
sphagnum moss, 
Oncidium mars hall ianum, mow advancin 
its flower scapes, is undoubtedly the 'best 0 
its class. It is a plant that will thrive unde, 
the most adverse conditions when first m 
ported for a season or two, after which tb 
plants usually deteriorate and become s 
weak that they are scarcely worth growinj 
I have no doubt but that the reason for th 
loss of normal vigour is owing to the fre 
flowering characteristics of the species, fc 
when first imported we find strong plani 
producing enormous scapes, densely covere 
with its large yellow and brown flower: 
altogether out of proportion to the size of tl 
pseudo-bulbs. The flowers last in perfe< 
tion for a considerable time, so that if tb 
flower scape is allowed to remain on tl 
plants for any lengthened period after th 
flowers have become fully expanded, the 
cause the bulbs so great a strain that the 
rarely ever regain their normal plump'cha 
acterist'cs. I find this species does best whe 
grown cool, that :is to say, if we wish i 
keep the plants in cultivation for an 
lengthened period. 
Compost fer Repotting. 
We use as a compost for potting aboi 
equal portions of fibrous peat, broken 0 £ 
or Beech leaves and chopped sphagnum mo 
with sufficient sand and ‘broken crocks addo 
to render the whole porous. Any repottir 
necessary is best attended to in the autum 
when tha plants commence growing after tl 
resting period. When in active growl 
ample moisture at the roots is necessar 
The plants may be practically saturated . 
the present season, where the flower scap 
are nearing expansion. 
H. J. Chapman. 
+ + +■ — 
A House-Leek Superstition. 
It was formerly common in the Nor 
of England to plant the House-Leek ( 
the roofs of cottage houses, the supe 
stition being that the herb served as d 
fence against lightning and thunder. 
Swanley Horticultural College. 
The report for 1907 states that the chi 
feature of the year at the Horticultur 
College, Swanley, Kent, was the establis 
ment of a course in natural history, i 
object being for the training of third ye 
students, who have passed the ordina 
gardening course and intend to quali 
as teachers of gardening and nature stud 
The year opened with sixty studen: 
which was increased to sixty-four 
autumn. Some of the students were a 
pointed to responsible positions in t. 
College garden, while five were appoint- 
demonstrators.- Six others were al 
placed in positions as teachers or le 
turers and gardeners in connection wi 
schools in different parts of the counti 
Thiee of the students were appointed 
head gardeners, while others received a 
pointments as under gardeners, marl- 
gardeners, and other work. The coloni 
branch still continues to work steadi 
and increase its ramifications by gettii 
connections with commissioners in va 
ous parts of the world. Mr. F. R. Sii 
Conservator of Forests and Expert 
Fruit Growing to the Government 
Natal, gave a lecture on that country 
the colonial and college students. T 
Principal of the college is Miss Fani 
R. Wilkinson, to whom communicatio- 
may be made. 
