75 ° 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 5, 1908. 
popularly called, are, of course, quite hardy, 
and will produce (their flowers in the open 
border at a time when outdoor blossoms are 
scarce indeed; nevertheless, a few clumps 
raised, potted, and forced into early bloom 
will well repay the amateur for his time and 
trouble. For in addition to being earlier and 
purer in tint, the flower stalks grow, to a 
greater length, thus rendering them more 
useful for decorative purposes. 
H. niger maximus is the ’best variety for 
farcing, its lovely flowers, pink tinted, 
measuring as much as five inches across un¬ 
der good cultivation, and growing two, and 
sometimes three, oh a stalk. Plants full of 
buds should be selected, care being taken not 
to break the brittle stems whilst potting them 
up. Tlhe pots should not be too large, and 
a good rich, fibrous loam is perhaps the best 
medium, and, if placed in genial warmth, 
to which they should be gradually accus¬ 
tomed, the beautiful flowers will soon ex¬ 
pand, but a gentle syringing may be found 
necessary ere the buds open, to rinse off any 
clinging soil. 
’Mums After Flowering. 
The all-important work of propagating 
the Chrysanthemums is generally carried out 
this month or early in next, but beware of de¬ 
ferring it too long, as early struck cuttings 
enjoy a more lengthy period of steady 
growth, which enables them to become well 
matured ere they are called upon to produce 
their blossoms. 
Many amateurs, however, appear to neglect 
the old plants when they have done bloom¬ 
ing, and, in consequence, the cuttings suffer, 
for unless they are token from a healthy and 
well-conditioned stock, it stands to reason 
the resultant plants must suffer. When the 
flowers are of no further decorative value, 
the stems should be cut down to within a 
few inches of the soil, and if given a little 
water now and again a fine crop of healthy 
young'growths should be forthcoming. If it 
is considered undesirable to retain them in 
the greenhouse, they will do quite well if 
placed in a pit or frame that is kept abso¬ 
lutely frost-proof. 
Pruning Marechal Niel Roses. 
The climbing Teas or Noisettes are gene¬ 
rally selected for indoor work, Marechal 
Niel and Niphetos being, perhaps, most pop¬ 
ular, and fine Roses they are too, the blooms 
they yield for so many months of the year 
being chaste and beautiful, especially in the 
bud stage. The trees should now be pruned 
and cleaned in readiness for another season’s 
display, but some amount of discretion must 
be used when cutting them back. 
When the main growths are trained hori¬ 
zontally, and the laterals fastened to wires 
stretched under the roof, pruning is a simple 
matter ; they may be cut back to the old 
wood, allowing the new shoots to replace 
them. But some amateurs do not like too 
prim a method, and where they have been 
allowed to roam at will all weak growths 
should first be cleared away, and where two 
shoots cross or crowd each other the least 
promising should he sacrificed entirely, 
whilst all others should be considerably 
shortened. Insect pesits should be searched 
for, and the wood may be gently scrubbed 
with a solution of carbolic soap and warm 
water, a nail-brush being a handy tool for 
the purpose. 
Winter-flowering Annuals. 
Those who followed the advice given 
from time to time in this column re the sum¬ 
mer sowing of annuals, will now be reap¬ 
ing a rich reward for their trouble. 
Such things as Stocks, Sshizanthus, and 
Mignonette, will now be proving their value 
as winter-flowering subjects, and really, in 
the summer, amidst a plethora of other, and 
perhaps more brilliant, things, many.of their 
good points are often missed. If carefully 
brought on dn frames throughout the au¬ 
tumn, and pinched back to ensure a sturdy 
habit of growth, fine stocky plants, full of 
flower buds, should now be the result. 
Their greenhouse treatment is simplicity 
itself. Plenty of ventilation, a light posi¬ 
tion near the glass, and applications of 
Clay’s, or some other reliable fertiliser, in 
liquid form, once or twice a week, alter¬ 
nated of course with other waterings, will 
soon bring them to perfection. 
G. A. F. 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
General Remarks. 
The present season is one of the most in¬ 
teresting of the year to amateurs who make 
a special feature of cultivating winter¬ 
flowering Orchids. I have for many years 
past advised amateurs, through the columns 
of The Gardening World, to make a special 
point of cultivating winter-flowering Or¬ 
chids, and more especially the winter- 
flowering Cypripediums. No Orchids are 
so popular at the present time as this sec¬ 
tion, of the so-called slipper Orchids. If 
we attend any of the fortnightly Orchid 
exhibitions in London and Manchester we 
find tfiey have the predominance over. all 
other Orchids, and I have recently attended 
several of the principal Chrysanthemum 
shows in the North of England, and find 
in practically all the large groups of 
flowering and foliage plants arranged for 
effect that the winter-flowering Cypripe¬ 
diums are included in quantity. I have 
already pointed out that these plants are 
especially suitable for cultivation in the 
town and smoky manufacturing districts 
where the atmospheric conditions are usually 
so detrimental to plant life in general, and 
in addition the durability of these plants 
as well as their tractability to culture have 
more than once been alluded to during the 
piesent year. I would advise at the present 
season while the plants are in flower that 
amateurs should make their own selection. 
Tastes will vary even with enthusiastic and 
extensive cultivators, and it is far better 
to grow such kinds as meet one’s own taste 
rather than be induced to grow an extensive 
variety in which there may be little or no 
interest attached. 
Plants Passing Out of Flower. 
There is generally a period at which all 
sections of the Orchid family may be con¬ 
sidered to be at rest, and in many cases it 
will be found that the practically dormant 
period is immediately after they have 
finished their flowering The tufted-leaved 
section, that is, those without pseudo-bulbs, 
cannot, of course, be permitted to be ex¬ 
cessively dry, but even these should only 
have sufficient root moisture to retain their 
leaves in a plump state, and, if possible, 
slightly cooler conditions may be afforded. 
This not only prevents the plants from 
starting prematurely into new growth, but 
also assists in ripening those that have re¬ 
cently reached maturity. Plants with 
pseudo-bulbs are, of course, better provided 
by nature to withstand longer periods of 
drought and thus do not become so readily 
affected where water is withheld while the 
plants are in a dormant state, but every care 
must be taken to prevent shrivelling and 
every facility should now be given to all 
this section of Orchids that they may receive 
full advantage of all available light. 
Cooler conditions with ample ventilation 
should also be given when the outside con¬ 
ditions permit. There is nothing more 
likely to conduce to successful Orchid culti¬ 
vation than by keeping the atmosphere pure. 
Plants in bud and advancing their flower 
scapes, such as Laelia anceps and other 
Mexican Laelias, do not require excessive 
atmospheric moisture. I find we get flowers 
with far more texture where they are grown 
in a temperature of about 60 tQ 65 degs. th 
the moisture kept at a minimum degre oy 
only damping the houses when the ou de 
conditions are favourable and by kee 
a pure atmosphere by discreet ventilatic 
H. J. Chapm.j 
♦- 
Begonia Clibran’s Pink. 
The above is a winter-flowering e- 
gonia now in season. It has s 11- 
double, rosy-pink flowers not unlike tie 
colour of Gloire de Lorraine, but habg 
much larger flowers. The leaves re 
very large and light green, while be 
plant does not exceed a foot in heigl 
The Gardener’s Reference. 
On leaving his situation a gard er 
asked for a written reference, and e- 
ceived the following from his emplor: 
“ I am able to state that Mr. - as 
been in my service for three year;-, du ig 
which time he got more out of my ga: :n 
than any man who has worked for me 
Cattleya Clarkiae intensa. 
The sepals and petals of this hv id 
are light purple, while the lip has a s rt 
tube and a crimson-purple blade wi a 
narrow white edge. The white cob in 
makes a contrast to the lip. Awanoi 
Merit by the R.H.S. when shown by 0- 
pold de Rothschild, Esq. (gardener, r. 
James Hudson), Gunnersbury Pk. 
Acton. 
Chrysanthemum Sir Frank Crisp. 
The above is a Japanese Chrysane- 
mum about 8 in. wide, forming a dee. 
solid bloom. The florets are crimson th 
old gold reverse. Award of Merit byne 
R.H.S. when shown by Mr. Henry r- 
kins, The Gardens, Greenland:, Her y- 
on-Thames. It also received a First-c.ss 
Certificate from the N.C.S. when shin 
by Mr. H. J. Jones, Ryecroft Nurse?:. 
Lewisham. 
Two Decorative Chrysanthemums. 
At a recent meeting of the R.I!.. 
Messrs. W. Wells and Co., II.. 
Merstham, exhibited cut flowers of Hty 
Wells with soft buff-yellow flowers >e- 
coming bronzy on the outer or older ] ri. 
Another decorative variety, named RF. 
Felton, was of a glossy golden-yelw. 
and very handsome. Award of Men to 
each of the above, also First-class Cti- 
ficate from the N.C.S. to the lastmand. 
Wargrave Chrysanthemum Show. 
The seventh annual show of Chryn- 
themums and other flowers, as wel as 
fruits and vegetables, under the ausj'csi 
of the Wargrave and District Garde -rf 
Association, was recently held in he 
Woodclyffe Hall, Wargrave, and '?.? 
largely attended. As in former y- rs, 
the exhibition was not competitive, >ut• 
in aid of the Gardeners’ Royal Ber.v 
lent Institution. The whole of the dr- 
bits were of fine quality and excelhtly 
staged under the superintendence 1 of 
Messrs. Bazeley and Robbins; man ; 
the visitors expressing the opinion bat 
the show was the prettiest yet arrayed 
by the Association. The hon. secre-nv 
Mr. H. Coleby, was able, as a ri'ilt 
of the show, to send a cheque for ive 
guineas to the secretary of the Gardep 
Royal Benevolent Institution, makii 1 
sum of over £60 so far raised in his 
way by the Wargrave Society. 
