430 THE garde is I no world. 
Seakale. 
The flower stems must be cut off just above 
the main leaves as fast, as they grow. If 
allowed to develop the flowers, the plants 
will be considerably weakened. 
Potatos. 
Examine the plots of Potatos and pull up 
any tall-growing weeds found amongst the 
plants. 'Clear away and destroy all haulm 
every day as the tubers are lifted for use. 
Foxglove. 
The Amateur’s Greenhouse. 
Looking- Ahead. 
Though it is pleasant during the present 
hot weather to sit around and contemplate 
with satisfaction the results of one’s past 
labours, the flower-lover must not neglect to 
look ahead, and many subjects intended for 
the autumn and winter decoration of his be¬ 
loved greenhouse will now require propa¬ 
gating, re-potting, or training, as the case 
may be. 
Shrubs and climbers will need constant 
attention, any gross shoots being shortened 
and crowded ones entirely removed to pre¬ 
serve symmetry of growth. The watering- 
pot, too, must be continually at one’s hand, 
whilst all insect pests must be searched for 
unremittingly, and when found, given no 
quarter. 
Carnations for Winter Flowering. 
Overlook occasionally winter-flowering 
Carnations, which should have been placed 
outside some time back, in order to make 
ripe short growth to provide next season’s 
supply of blossom. If not in frames, it may 
be necessary to shelter them from high winds 
and heavy rains, which, if not guarded 
against, may work havoc amongst the tender 
brittle growths. Pinch back any unduly 
lengthy shoots to induce the plants to break 
out freely around the base, and should flower 
buds appear, they must be immediately re¬ 
moved and the stems shortened. Pot on any 
rooted cuttings and nip off the extremities of 
the taller growths to ensure sturdy stocky 
plants for placing in their winter quarters 
in early September. 
The Beautiful Caladiums. 
These fine foliage plants are rightly prized 
by the amateur, and their beautiful markings 
and superb colourings will be enhanced by 
an occasional feeding with a rather weak 
solution of some reliable liquid fertiliser. 
Shade the plants from the sun’s fiercest rays, 
and should it be desired to utilise them for 
- conservatory or indoor decoration, great care 
must be taken to avoid draughts, which will 
soon irrevocably damage the lovely leaves. 
They require an abundance of water, especi¬ 
ally when new roots are spreading, and sy¬ 
ringing at intervals with lukewarm water 
will keep them clean and prove otherwise 
beneficial during the present hot weather. 
Thinning Grapes. 
Although the novice may have misgivings 
about reducing the number of Grapes on his 
cherished Vine, especially if it be a young 
one and the clusters are few, yet he may 
rest assured that he will lose nothing by so 
doing, but will obtain heavier bunches and 
finer fruit. When the Grapes have attained 
the size of Hawthorn berries, they should re¬ 
ceive their first thinning, using a fine pair 
of scissors, made specially keen at the tips, 
as every one removed should be severed 
cleanly without bruising the stalks. Start 
at the top of the bunch operated upon, and 
carefully avoid bringing the fingers into 
contact with the fruit, for every touch thereon 
will make itself manifest at a later period. 
Shake the bunch slightly before commenc¬ 
ing, to dislodge any loose berries, then pick 
out with the scissors any that appear likely 
to cause overcrowding as the fruit swells, 
one-half of the total number may often be 
sacrificed with advantage. 
Keep an eye on the shape and form of the 
bunches, ensuring, if possible, an even dis¬ 
tribution of the fruit, and when the thinning 
is completed no one Grape should remain 
touching another. 
A Substitute for Maidenhair Ferns. 
Those who lack the accommodation or ex¬ 
perience necessary to grow the beautiful Adi- 
antums or Maidenhair Ferns, will find a 
good substitute in Thalictrum adiantifo- 
lium, or as it is more often called, the 
Maidenhair plant. It is quite hardy and suc¬ 
ceeds well in either a cold or warm green¬ 
house. Seed may be sown at almost any 
time, and the young plants should be potted 
on as necessary in a compost of sandy loam 
and leaf mould, with sufficient sharp sand 
to render it porous and plenty of crocks in 
the pot to ensure thorough drainage, as they 
will not thrive in a state of stagnant mois¬ 
ture. Syringe well morning and evening to 
keep the Fern-like foliage bright and to dis¬ 
perse the greenfly,, to which they are some¬ 
what liable. Place the pots containing them 
as near the glass as possible, and, in order 
to preserve the leaves remove the insignifi¬ 
cant white flowers as soon as they appear. 
Summer Treatment of Arums. 
'Callas, or Richardias, as they are often 
called, may now be taken from the pots in 
which they flowered, and after shaking the 
earth from around the roots, the longest of 
the latter may be shortened, a sharp knife 
being used for the operation. Prepare in one 
of the frames from which the bedding plants 
have lately been removed, a good, rich, light 
compost, and place the Arums therein, press¬ 
ing the soil somewhat firmly around them in 
order to allow of them being raised with a 
good ball of earth when repotting becomes 
necessary in the autumn. Keep the plants 
partially shaded and liberally supplied with 
water whilst in a growing state, but avoid 
stagnation at the roots or they will soon be¬ 
come unhealthy and diseased. 
G. A. F. 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
Cool House Orchids. 
Most of the plants classed under this head¬ 
ing will have passed their flowering season 
and will be in a more or less active state 
of growth; these must naturally receive 
every encouragement to assist them in pro¬ 
perly developing their growths and foliage. 
It is always a more or less difficult task dur¬ 
ing the months of June, July and August, 
to keep the temperature of this division 
within reasonable bounds, although success¬ 
ful growers in general have raised the nor¬ 
mal conditions of the cool Orchid house to 
a considerably higher standard of late years. 
Excessive heat during the above-mentioned 
months is detrimental to the plants, and 
every precaution must be taken to minimise 
as far as possible these ill effects. 'Shading, 
discreet ventilation and ample moisture in 
the atmosphere are the essential requisites to 
counteract these unfavourable conditions. 
Shading. 
In shading I find it advisable to cover the 
roof glass with a thin permanent shading, 
using for this purpose whitening mixed with 
buttermilk or skim milk with a small por¬ 
tion of salt added. This can be made to any 
thickness desired and put on with an or¬ 
dinary whitewash brush. This I find bene¬ 
ficial for two purposes. It not only assists 
in keeping the house cooler by the additional 
shade after the blinds are drawn, but in the 
early morning we must not use the roof 
blinds so soon, and by the removal of the 
blinds earlier in the evenings considerably 
June 27, 1908 
more light is obtained. I-consider this :em 
most essential because it assists in ha en- 
ing the growth as it develops. This an 
advantage that cannot well be overlc;ed 
Combined with light the discreet use c the 
ventilators facilitates growth as .well ; a; . 
sists it to keep the temperature within bo ids 
I have advocated for many years the n of 
the lower ventilators, but where there 3 a 
possibility of stagnation in the atmosiere 
the roof ventilators may be brought intuse 
but the roof and lower ventilation sluld 
not be applied as a general thing or ,e: ; 
will be a difficulty in avoiding cect 
draughts, coming in contact with the 
plants. 
Damping. 
The moisture in the atmosphere olour 
Orchid houses is the life of the plantnnd 
unless the desired conditions are obtned 
there is little prospect in the successfu :ui- 
ture of Orchids. The number of tim a; 
which the houses must be damped depec on 
the conditions prevailing outside and tl po¬ 
sition in which the house is situated, b: the 
cool, moist atmosphere, falling short of ag¬ 
nation, must be maintained. Syringe or 
spraying the plants overhead once or ice 
a day' is beneficial in bright, warm weaur. 
Insect Pests. 
Insect pests, such as greenfly and tbps, 
are the most troublesome. By caie.liv 
spraying the plants overhead with X’ All 
wash or some safe insecticide at re la: 
intervals of about once a fortnight willuc- 
cessfully keep these pests in check bin 
should the insects be observed on the p uts 
in the meantime spraying should be dc: at 
once and at frequent intervals. Where pm- 
are grown within reasonable distances om 
trees and herbaceous borders it is surpiing 
the quantities of thrips that find theiivay 
into the hou’se, especially in breezy weaer. 
H. J. Chapik. 
♦ ♦♦- 
Paeonia decora alba. 
The flowers of this beautiful vtiety 
have eight to ten obovate white pah, 
with a great bunch of yellow anthc in 
the centre and red tips to the stipias. 
Apparently it is a stronger growing am 
than any of the white ones hitherto -tro- 
duced to cultivation. Award of Me: by 
the R.H.S. at the Temple Show to Msn. 
R. Wallace and Co., Kilnfield Gai:w 
Colchester. 
Miltonia St. Andre. 
The parentage of this handsome hand 
was Roezlii X bleuana splendens. Itthis 
variety the violet-purple blotches c the 
base of the petals are larger and d m r 
in colour than in M. bleuana Stew- 
On the lip is a fan-shaped blotch vith 
numerous rays and of a brown and pT 1 ;' 
hue. First-class Certificate by the RIS. 
on June gth, when shown by Baron Sun¬ 
der (gardener Mr. H. Ballantine), The 
Dell, Egham. 
R.H.S. Outing. 
By permission of the King, the (| tri¬ 
ed and Committees of the Royal Hor:ul- 
tural Society visited Windsor and jog- 
more on June 10th. The Mayor of Vjml- 
sor entertained the party, which um¬ 
bered about 120 persons, to lunchei !! 
the Guildhall, after which the St. Ge<A' 
and Memorial Chapels, the State Aan- 
ments of Windsor Castle, and the Iy ,: 
Gardens, Frogmore, were inspected. - Sl > 
Albert Rollit placed his sfeam laun 
the disposal of the Council for a rive , tip 
during the evening, tea being serve: on 
board. 
