368 THE GARDENING WORLD . May 30, 1908. 
all -dying (blossoms which are not being saved 
for seed, as they only tax the plants unneces¬ 
sarily 'if permitted to develop-; even the 
annuals will continue in flower much longer 
if this rule is adhered to. Pay attention to 
seedlings and struck cuttings, potting on 
when the roots protrude through the ball of 
earth, and if large specimen plants are de¬ 
sired, pinch back the main stem to induce 
the growth of side shoots. Upon no account 
neglect the watering pot, as during warm 
weather delay in this respect often causes 
a serious check to the plants- from which some 
of the more tender subjects take a long time 
to recover. 
Late Gladioli. 
It is a good plan when planting out 
Gladioli into the beds or borders to retain 
a few of the corms for use m the cco-1 green¬ 
house or conservatory after the frosts have 
despoiled the outdoor display. There are 
few more showy flowers than these, some of 
the -hybrids being particularly beautiful and 
deserving of the highest culture. Mix a 
oompo-st of rich loam, silver sand and well- 
decayed manure, and 'having filled some six 
or seven-inch pots, insert the corms singly. 
They should then -be plunged, in fact, iburiied . 
in a (bed of ashes, or soil if it 'be free fro-m 
inseots, and watered occasionally during dry 
weather. In the autumn the pots may be 
lifted and removed to the greenhouse, where 
their lovely spikes of bloom will soon -reward 
the grower for his trouble. 
Double Primulas. 
Plants of this u-seful winter-flowering 
favourite (P. sinensis fl. p-leno) should be 
broken up,- and each portion placed separ¬ 
ately and rather deeply in small pots, 
sixties being a suitable size. Keep the 
young plants fairly moist and in a genial 
atmosphere, in fact, a (little bottom heat will 
greatly expedite matters. After a time, 
when they are well rooted it will become 
necessary to -shift them into larger pots, still 
keeping them rather close till they are well 
established. When this is accomplished, the 
plants will require -plenty of light and air 
to ensure a strong and sturdy growth, and 
it is well to shade slightly from the su-n’s 
fiercest -rays during the summer. 
Treatment of Tomatos. 
Tomatos, which may (be fruited either in 
ten-inch -pots or planted out, will now 'be 
showing promise of future crops. Little or 
no manure should -be included in the -pot¬ 
ting co-mpost, as it tends to the luxuriant 
growth of the Vines at the expense of the 
fruit. Top-dress the plants with rich soil 
when the surface roots show, covering them 
thinly each time, as repeated -dressings or 
mulchings are most -beneficial. Pinch out 
all young shoots that appear at the base of 
the leaf stalks, and when in flower a gentle 
-tapping to disperse the pollen will greatly 
assist the fruit to set, and mid-day is the 
best time to carry out this operation. Judi¬ 
cious app-licafions of Clay’s Fertiliser or 
guano may be given to plants when in bloom, 
the doses (being increased in strength and 
frequency as the fruit swells and more 
bunches materialise. 
Lotus peliorhynchus. 
This somewhat uncommon plant is both 
curious and beautiful, and many amateurs 
like to combine the two, fox often a rare ox 
grotesque subject will win the notice and 
admiration of some friend when the choicest 
products of the stove or greenhouse have 
failed to do -so. This quaint plant with its 
somewhat formidable name, is also known 
as the “ Pigeon’s Beak,” doubtless from the 
curious formation of its scarlet flowers. It 
grows well in pots or baskets (for it is o-f a 
drooping nature) in the greenhouse or con¬ 
servatory, and may be raised from seed 
sown in gentle heat during the spring. 
Once a stock is obtained it can he increased 
by cuttings taken about now, which will 
strike root 9 readil-y in small ipo-ts of leaf 
mould and sand. When established,, the 
young plants- require plenty of ventilation 
and thorough drainage is essential, for 
(though -tlh|e plants require abundance of 
water, lit must upon no account be allowed to 
stagnate around the roots. 
Spiraeas, etc., After Flowering. 
Early-flowering subjects, -such as Diely- 
tras-(The Bleeding Heart), Spiraea japonica, 
Solomon’s Seal, and many others which 
have 'been yielding their lovely blossoms 
during the past months, may, as -the flowers 
die off, Ibe relegated to some out of the way 
(border, or corner of -the kitchen garden, to 
recuperate, as- w-hen forced or aided with 
stimulants they are .seldom worth growing 
in -pots for -two -successive seasons, and it 
is well to have two batches for alternate use, 
unless garden space is -scarce, in which ca-se 
it As -better to throw the old_plants away 
and -purchase a fresh supply 5- of dormant 
roots each autumn. It does not seem to 'be 
generally known amongst amateurs what a 
-really fine pot plant for early use the Solo¬ 
mon’s Seal (Polygomatum multiflorum) is, 
and I should advise -all who have not tried 
it -to make a note for next season’s use. 
Calceolarias from Seed. 
A 'batch of seed sown -now will provide a 
supply of useful plants by the end of the 
summer. Sow in pans of light sandy soil 
which has -been -previously moistened and 
levelled. .Scatter the seed evenly and thinly, 
and cover very lightly with fine sand. 
Place, a sheet of shaded glass over the pan 
till the seedlings appear, when it can be 
gradually removed, and the plants, when 
large enough, pricked out into boxes of the 
same soil, afterwards shifting singly into 
three-inch pots. Continue potting on till 
they a-re in five-inch pots, in which they can 
he -safely wintered. 
G. A. F. • 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
Cymbidiums. 
It is somewhat difficult to select subjects 
for weekly notes on Orchids for amateurs, 
especially is this the case when one knows 
that in most cases the facilities which many 
amateurs possess, for the cultivation of Or¬ 
chids are of a more or less limited nature; 
but in the case of the subject of this note, 
we have a subject -that will lend itself to 
successful cultivation under varied condi¬ 
tions, and the Cymbidiums are thus a class 
of plants that are worthy of the attention of 
readers for who-m this column is set apart. 
C. lo-wianum has considerable variations, 
and is one of the most suitable and desirable 
among the species. We find plants culti¬ 
vated under practically all kinds of treat¬ 
ment, from the warm plant stove to the cool 
O-dorutoglossum house. Although it is gene¬ 
rally regarded as an intermediate house 
Orchid, there can be no doubt but that this 
and some of the other species and hybrids 
are better suited when grown with the cool- 
house Orchids. 
The Best Cymbidium for Amateurs. 
C. lowianu-m is a -s-pTing-flowering plant, 
and is one of the most durable of all the 
Orchid species, the flowers lasting from two 
-to three months .in perfection after they have 
become expanded. They axe exceedingly 
useful for exhibition or -house decoration 
purposes, and they are exceedingly durable 
when used as cut flower-s. Repotting should 
not be done more frequently than is abso¬ 
lutely necessary, for when disturbed fox re¬ 
potting p-urpo-ses the plants often suffer and 
take some time in acquiring their normal 
vigour. Any dead matter about the base of 
the plants and decaying surface material 
should be carefully removed annually, and 
the latter made good with fresh compost. 
Where repotting is required, the best th¬ 
is when the new roots make their app« 
ance at the base of the recently developed 
developing growth. The roots of healt 
plants are usually thickly massed togetb, 
and considerable care is necessary wh. 
turning the plants out of their pots for is 
purpose of repotting, or considerable dama; 
will be caused to the roots that may-has 
become attached to the sides of the pc. 
After removing them from the pots, ca- 
fully pick or shake out any potting cc- 
posit. When this has been done, carefu; 
cut away any dead roots, and remove usel; 
pseudo-bulbs, and the base of the oths 
should be examined for scale and other - 
sect pests. Being robust rooting plar, 
liberal root room is necessary, so that 1 
selecting suitable pots, the size of the sp<. 
men must govern the pot suitable for 5 
plants. The pots should be filled to c-- 
third their depth with clean crocks. 
Compost. 
The potting compost we find suitable s 
about equal portions of turfy loam ;1 
fibrous peat intermixed with chopped sph - 
num moss. Sufficient coarse sand or finy 
broken crocks should be added, to rent 
the compost porous. The soil should e 
made moderately firm about the base of e 
plants, and slightly mounting to the cen 
When repotting is completed, water vh 
rain water, wetting the compost throui. 
Shade from bright light until the new :- - 
have become established in the compost. ;i 
keep the atmosphere moist about the pla -.. 
syringing overhead in bright weather t ! 
be found beneficial in hot weather. 
Other Good Cymbidiums. 
OtheT suitable species are -C. eburneum.. 
giiganteum, C. g-randiflorum, C. tracyanw 
and C. cyperifolium. There are runners 
hybrids and supposed natural hybrids ?- 
rived from the intercrossing of the ab?. 
which are in every way worthy of the ai 
teurs’ attention, and as bot-h the above-oi- 
tion-ed species and the hybrids flower dung 
-the winter, spring, and summer months, by 
provide a succession of flowers for a a 
siderable period. 
H. J. Chapma 
-- 
Arsenic in Horticulture. 
Lecturing before the members of te 
Edinburgh Botanical Society on May 4 - 
on the use of arsenic in horticulture, r. 
J. Rutherford Hill said he had rece ly 
been consulted to explain the deatlot 
some domestic fowls on an estate in ie 
South of Scotland. Inquiry showed at 
eight months ago the pathways freque:;d 
by the fowls had been treated with ann¬ 
eal weed-killer, containing white arsdc 
and caustic soda in equal proportiis. 
The rains had washed away all the sla, 
but chemical analysis showed that he 
'arsenic had been retained in dangeus 
quantity in the soil, and this accou ed 
for the death of the fowls. Several sai- 
lar cases had been reported from c>er 
parts of the country. Notwithstan ng 
the presence of arsenic in dangerous qm- 
tity in the soil, the ground was non at 
the end of eight months, more or 
covered with a vigorous growth of wok- 
on which the arsenic appeared to havno 
deleterious effect. He advocated the in¬ 
hibition of the use of arsenic by lega¬ 
tion similar to the Poisoned Grain n- 
..Poisoned Flesh Acts of 1863 and G 
The use of arsenic in agriculture m 
France had caused the medical plo¬ 
sion to issue a warning as to its dan:* 5 - 
Mr. Peter Fenton, Glasgow, subm 
some interesting botanical exhibits. 
