THE GARDENING WORLD, 
August 8, 1908. 
518 
resultant seedlings will be very useful, and 
may be lifted and planted in boxes in severe 
weather; the leaves, though small, are suit¬ 
able for garnishing, when older, coarser 
fronds_are not suitable. See Fig. 3. A few 
rows of Lettuces, Endive, and Black 
Spanish Radishes should be sown in a south 
border. Also a good plot of Prickly 
Spinach. 
Very Late Celery., 
Instead of putting out young plants in 
trenches at this season plant them on the 
level ground on a warm border. _ The neces¬ 
sary earthing up may be done readily 
enough if the rows be arranged 3 ft. 6 in. 
apart. The plants will be small but very 
sweet and useful. 
Earthing-Up Celery. 
The earthing of the main batches of 
Celery should receive attention. But the 
soil must be placed to the plants in dry 
weather and while the leaves of the plants 
are dry. 
Red Cabbages. 
These are useful for pickling. It fre¬ 
quently happens that the heads split, and 
•where this occurs and moisture lodges in 
them they soon decay and are rendered use¬ 
less unless the plants be neatly laid over. 
When dry use them. 
Foxglove. 
The Amateur’s Greenhouse. 
Greenhouse Work. 
Most greenhouse plants are now in luxu¬ 
riant growth, and will require abundance of 
moisture at the roots, whilst those not show¬ 
ing bloom will benefit if well sprayed early 
morning or evening, as this procedure 
freshens the foliage and tends to keep down 
the numerous insect pests. Liquid manure 
may be applied in somewhat liberal doses to 
Tomato plants and Cucumbers, both of 
which will now be showing a good crop of 
fruit, but Melons require less moisture when 
once they commence to ripen. During the 
hot August days the temperature in the 
greenhouse often runs unduly high, but care 
should be taken when this occurs not to al¬ 
low a sudden inrush of cool air by suddenly 
opening the ventilations to their widest ex¬ 
tent ; they should be opened gradually and 
closed again (or nearly so) in the evening 
in the same manner. 
The more air the plants get at this season 
the riper and harder will their growths be¬ 
come, and it is from such robust short- 
wooded plants that the finer displays of 
blossom are obtained. 
Stock, Beauty of Nice. 
A sowing may now be made of these dainty 
Stocks, so admirable for pot purposes, and 
providing, as they do, such a profusion of 
cut flowers at a season when they are so 
much appreciated. The seedlings should be 
potted off when large enough to handle and 
placed in a frame for a few weeks. Do not 
allow the young plants to become drawn up 
or potbound, but grow them on as near the 
glass as possible, and repot as soon as the 
roots fill the pots containing them. Unless 
this is attended to at the proper time the 
growth will be checked and the plants will 
flower prematurely. Pinch back the main 
shoots occasionally to promote a fine bushy 
habit of growth, but, if desired, a few 
plants may be allowed to run straight on for 
an early supply of bloom. Keep them well 
watered, but restrain from feeding them up 
until the flower buds are showing, at which 
stage they will greatly benefit if given a 
little stimulus. 
Ripening the Grapes. 
The results of judicious “ thinning out ” 
will now be apparent in shapely bunches of 
good-sized berries, whilst neglect of this all- 
important operation will be equally obvious. 
Liquid manure may be applied to the bor¬ 
ders containing the roots, and the Vines 
should be periodically examined for the re¬ 
moval of useless growths upon the laterals. 
The foliage should be so arranged that 
plenty of light may reach the fruit, which, 
if not already showing colour will soon com¬ 
mence to do so. Early morning ventilation 
is necessary in order to evaporate any mois¬ 
ture collected on the berries ere the sun’s 
heat is sufficient to scald or disfigure them. 
Decorative Plants. 
Many amateurs find Palms troublesome to 
manage, but some of the Dracaenas offer no 
difficulties and form a fine decorative group. 
D. australis is one of the most useful, whilst 
the richly-foliaged D. rubra is a superb 
plant for a warm greenhouse. Old and 
leggy plants may be “ topped that is to 
say, the long naked stem completely severed 
and re-struck in a pot of sandy soil, the 
roots forming the more readily if a little 
bottom heat is available. 
Ficus elastica. 
The India-rubber Plant, and its pretty 
variety F. elastica variegata are other fine 
ornamental subjects, and, like the Dracaenas, 
often develop an unsightly length of stem, 
and should be treated in the same drastic 
manner. Cuttings will also strike readily at 
this time of the year, but it is as well to 
allow them to dry somewhat before inserting 
them. A novel method of increasing these 
is by means of well-matured leaves, which, 
if removed and placed one-third of their 
length in a vessel containing water, and there 
left undisturbed for a time, will emit root¬ 
lets, and may then be grown on in small pots 
in leafmould and sand. 
Camellias. 
These grand flowering shrubs may be 
grown either in large pots or tubs, or planted 
out in the borders of the greenhouse, but the 
former is the most convenient method, and 
portable plants will now derive much benefit 
if placed out of doors during the present 
■month. See that the pots or . tubs are pro¬ 
vided with thorough drainage, as stagnation 
at the roots, or ineffectual watering are the 
main,causes of most of the difficulties which 
amateurs so often experience in the culture 
of these majestic plants. 
Useful Campanulas. 
When arranging the plants on the stagings 
it should be the amateur’s object to hide as 
much as possible of both woodwork and pots, 
and the several varieties of Campanulas are 
eminently adapted for this purpose. If 
placed along the edge of the staging their 
graceful trails literally covered with bell¬ 
shaped blossom, they make an informal line 
of delicate colouring the entire length of the 
house. A little judicious feeding and the 
timely removal of dying blossoms will cause 
them to remain in bloom for quite a lengthy 
period. 
The dainty blue C. isophylla and the 
white C. i. alba are both well-known and ex¬ 
tremely popular, but two other charming and 
less common varieties are Campanula balchi- 
niana, with its beautifully variegated 
foliage, and C. Maayi, which blooms so 
profusely that scarcely a leaf is visible. Cut¬ 
tings of these will sti ike readily at almost 
any time, so there can be no excuse for any 
insufficiency of plants. G. A. F. 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
Calanthes. 
The deciduous section of Calanthes are at 
the present season advanced to the stage 
when the new pseudo-bulbs commence to 
form at the base of the advancing growths. 
The plants, having practically filled their 
pots with roots, will need careful attention 
to provide the necessary root mixture. I 
have on several occasions pointed out the 
advisibility of permitting the plants to be¬ 
come reasonably dry between waterings. 
There is always a possible danger at this 
season of the year, when the conditions out¬ 
side are hot and drying, of evaporation 
rapidly taking place. It is necessary, there¬ 
fore, in cases where we have to .deal with 
plants that are practically root bound, to be 
on our guard against the plants becoming 
dry and remaining in this state for any 
lengthened period. In the case of Calanthes, 
especially where they have to be grown on 
shelves, it is well to look over the plants 
for water two or three times a day in bright 
weather. 
Manurial Assistance. 
Although I am no advocate of manure for 
Orchids, if it is desirable to afford the 
plants assistance by artificial manuring, the 
time at which such assistance is likely to be 
advantageous is when the plants have filled 
their pots with roots and the pseudo-bulb i; 
in course of formation. I do not think there 
is anything more likely to give assistance 
than a little weak cow manure water. 1 
is not a bad plan to have a bag, half fillec 
with cow-dung and immersed in a barrel 0: 
water, as a stock solution. The water may 
be dipped out, and after being carefully 
strained, diluted with rain -water until tin 
required strength is obtained. Manure wate 
should not be given when the plants are ii 
a very dry state. It must be distinctly 
understood, that while I have given tb 
above advice, that I do not advocate manur 
ing any Orchids. I consider a plentifu 
supply of rain water in the tanks is all tha 
is required. 
Ripening; off Calanthes. 
As the pseudo-bulbs advance, more ligh 
may be afforded, and where there is the leas 
tendency to show signs of damp spotting 
care must be taken to reduce the etmcspheci 
moisture by not damping the floors an' 
staging so frequently, and to prevent a po; 
sibility of excessive moisture during th 
night; it is a good plan to have a little ai 
on the roof ventilators, but where the latte 
are used the side ones should be kept close 
to prevent direct draughts. I consider the 
if the same treatment is afforded as the 
generally in practice for the ripening of 
crop of Melons there is little difficulty e: 
perienced in properly maturing Calanthes. 
Insect Enemies. 
Insect pests must be carefully guarde 
against. Scale is often troublesome at th 
season. The best method of keeping the; 
pests in check is to carefully wash the plan 
with a soft sponge; a little of Mitchell 
insecticide mixed in the water 'enables tl 
scale to be more readily sponged off tl 
plants. This is also a good remedy for re 
spider, which are almost sure to make the 
appearance when the atmosphere beconr 
the least dry. Where plants are affecte 
with Thrips (the yellow kinds are the mo 
troublesome) it is a good plan to mix up 
bath of -Mitchell’s insecticide and to dip tl 
plants, laying them on their side after ii 
mersion to permit their leaves proper 
draining before they are replaced to the 
permanent position. 'In the case whe 
plants have been attacked with black Thrip 
and there are eggs on the leaves, the latt 
should be carefully gone over with a sc! 
sponge and the deposits are easily remove 
I have found no damage from the use of tl 
insecticide, used as directed. There is 
necessity to syringe with clean water aft 
its use, as no deposit is distinguishable aft' 
its use with rain water. 
H. J. Chapman.. 
Papaws, which are now in season, a' 
a variety of Melon, and grow' w'ild d 
over Jamaica. 
