576 
TUB GARDENING WORLD 
September 5, 1908. 
Many of the summer-flowering annuals are 
now past their best and may be discarded, 
and the earlier Tomatos, whose yield does 
not now justify the room they occupy, may 
be stripped of the fruit (which will ripen 
if placed on a sunny shelf) and consigned' 
to the flames,, as they are nearly always 
more or less infested with white or green¬ 
fly. Examine the stagings and woodwork 
for earwigs, woodlice and other insect pests, 
which sometimes escape the eye amidst the 
luxuriant growth of summer. 
The climbing plants, too, will need again 
thinning out, the shoots training up, and 
the lovely Stephanotis, if infested with red 
spider, thrips or mealy bug, should be 
sprayed with Abol; whilst a thorough fumi¬ 
gating for two nights in succession will 
well repay the amateur for the trouble 
taken. 
Achimcnes. 
What charming flowers these really are, 
especially that variety known as Celestial. 
But alas ! all good things have an ending, 
and already some of the earliest of these 
are showing signs that their season is nearly 
over. When they cease flowering they should 
be gradually “ dried off,” that is to say, 
the water (of which a liberal supply is 
necessary when they are in a growing state) 
should be withheld by degrees until the tops 
die off. The pots containing them should 
then be placed in a dry situation to enable 
the tubers to mature. 
Taking this into consideration it is as 
well, when utilizing them for hanging bas¬ 
kets, to plunge them in pots, which can then 
be removed entire, as the roots undoubtedly 
ripen better if undisturbed till necessary 
for the purpose of restarting them in spring. 
The baskets can be replenished with recently 
struck cuttings of Tradescantia, or some 
such useful plant. 
Treatment of Cacti. 
Cacti, and succulents in general, will, as 
autumn advances, do with far less water 
than during the summer months, the quan¬ 
tity, of course, being lessened gradually. 
In this, as in other things connected with 
the culture of flowers, the amateur must 
use his discretion. However, the Epiphyl- 
lums, Opuntias, Phyllocacti,, and other thin 
leaf-like kinds requiring more frequent 
applications than their more globose rela¬ 
tives, many of which may be left almost 
entirely dry during November, December, 
and January, whilst the former varieties 
may with advantage be slighfly moistened 
about once in three weeks. As a whole, 
Cacti are very easy of culture, their chief 
ailments arising from over-watering; and 
when disease sets in the affected parts can 
be cut boldly away and the plant repotted 
in fresh compost containing plenty of brick 
rubble, or old mortar, after which it is 
better to keep them slightly shaded for a 
few weeks. 
Wirtter-f lowering Begonias. 
The large flowering Begonias are yet 
making a glorious display, but whilst full 
of well-merited admiration for them, we 
must not forget that most useful class—the 
winter-flowering varieties. Young plants 
of Gloire de Lorraine, or other sorts that 
have been making steady growth during 
the. summer may now receive a final pinch¬ 
ing back to ensure well-formed and bushy 
specimens. They will flower nicely in five- 
inch pots, and the best compost is one con¬ 
sisting .mainly, of good fibrous loam and 
leaf-mould, with the addition of some silver 
sand, and a little well-rotted cow manure. 
Forcing Lilacs. 
The Lilacs, or more properly speaking, 
Syringas, are indeed admirable shrubs for 
forcing into early bloom during winter and 
early spring, by anyone possessing a house 
where a temperature of about sixty degrees 
can be maintained. The young plants, if 
not already established in pots, should be 
raised during' the present month, and placed 
in receptacles of just sufficient size, using 
a good sound loam for soil, with the addi¬ 
tion of some sand if the former is inclined 
to be heavy. In selecting plants for forc¬ 
ing, select those with the plumpest buds, as 
they are more likely to prove floriferous, 
and the pots containing them should be 
plunged out of doors, and brought into the 
house in batches as desired. It is always 
unsatisfactory to attempt to force the same 
plants two years in succession, and those 
used for this purpose last season should be 
replaced by others. One Of the best varieties 
is the popular Charles X, and it is a curious 
fact that the naturally beautiful flowers of 
purple Lilac become pure white when forced 
prematurely into bloom in heat. 
Narcissi for Christmas. 
Narcissi, whether as cut flowers or pot 
plants, are grand for decorative purposes, 
and are never more appreciated than at the 
festive season. No time should be lost in 
potting up bulbs for this purpose, as it is 
better to grow them on slowly, than to rush 
them into flower rapidly in strong heat. If 
careful note has been taken in past years 
of the sorts with which the greatest success 
has been attained, these may be again se¬ 
lected, in addition to a few untried varieties 
for experimental purposes. It is generally 
found, however, that the more fleshy the 
petals are, the more adaptable they are for 
forcing; many of the flimsy ones which 
make a fine show in the garden do not 
realise expectations when forced into early 
bloom. G. A. F. 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
Dendrobium formosum. 
This species is not always the easiest 
subject to grow. It is often found that it 
will succeed well for one or two seasons 
after the plants have been imported, but 
from this time -it gradually becomes less 
vigorous in growth and ultimately dies a 
lingering death. It is by no means a 
pleasant matter to lay before amateurs the 
bad characteristics of different plants, but 
I think it is only right that one should 
point out these particular features so that 
if failure results, they may have some idea 
of its cause from the commencement. There 
is also a redeeming feature in connection 
with the cultivation of this, the largest 
flowered Dendrobium, and one of the most 
beautiful of our autumn flowering Orchids, 
and that is, that there are exceptions to the 
rule and there are numerous cases I have 
met with where the plants have retained 
their normal vigour for a long time. 
I would, in the first place, point out that 
it is useless to attempt to grow these species 
unless there is a stove house or a house 
where a high moist temperature is retained 
throughout the year. The plants are usu¬ 
ally imported in large quantities, in the 
spring of the year, when they are procur¬ 
able at a reasonable expense. It is best to 
secure imported plants, if possible, to com¬ 
mence with ; they commence growing almost 
directly they are received, and it is rarely 
indeed that the plants fail to give satis¬ 
faction the first season after they have been 
received. I find the plants do equally well 
when grown in well-drained baskets or pots, 
and certainly think they are best accommo¬ 
dated when suspended near the roof glass. 
The usual potting compost of two parts 
peat to one of chopped sphagnum moss suits 
them well. It is advisable to see that the 
potting compost used is of a durable n 
ture and rendered free and porous to avo 
stagnation, for it is best that the plan 
should not be disturbed, for repotting pu 
poses, more frequently than is absolute, 
necessary. 
If desirable, plants may be secured 
the present season that have completed the 
growth and have their flower buds advan 
ing. Large plants of D. formosum make 
very fine display, are exceedingly useful fc 
exhibition purposes, and being very du 
able they are useful for cut flower purpose 
I have above stated that the plants are be 
grown by being retained in warm cond 
tions at all seasons of the year, but as soc 
as the flowering season is passed and tl 
growths have reached maturity they ente 
upon a long dormant period, during whic 
they will require only sufficient root moi 
ture to retain the pseudo-bulbs in a norm; 
plump state. With the return of sprim 
new growths make their appearance, an 
from this stage more liberal treatment wi 
be required. During the growing seaso 
plenty of light should be given; in fac 
some of the most successful growers of L 
formosum grow the plants suspended froi 
the roof of a Fig house or a hot forcin 
house, where they are subjected to the fui 
benefit of the sun’s rays throughout ;:h 
summer months with little or no shadin, 
on the roof glass, the plants being onl 
taken to more sheltered quarters to expan. 
their flowers. Any repotting or top dressin 
required is best attended to when the ne\ 
roots make their appearance at the base o 
the new growths. Thrips are the wors 
insect pests to be contended with, but spray 
ing the plants at regular intervals will kee] 
these pests in check. 
H. J. Chapman. 
-- 
The Smyrna Fig. 
Mr. J. M. P. Mainetty, of Smyrna 
writing on this subject in the “Premie 
Enquirer,” says :—The Fig tree grows al 
most wild, and requires very little cul 
tivation. Although certain varieties ar 
grown in various parts of the world, thos 
of Asiatic Turkey, commonly callec 
Smyrna Figs, for the reason that they ar 
packed and shipped from Smyrna, are tb 
best. The growing district is in the pro 
vince (vilayet) of Aldin, the plantation 
extending from Ayassoluk to Ortakchi, ; 
valley over one hundred miles long 
spreading far on both sides of the line 
the Ottoman Railway, which runs througl 
it, affording direct transportation from tb 
interior. 
Gooseberry Mildew. 
Mr. C. A. Ealand, B.A., F.L.S., bio 
logist to the Essex Education Committee 
writing from the County Laboratories' 
Chelmsford, on the subject of Gooseberry 
Mildew, says :—“ The mildew, as its nami 
implies, is a native of America, and wa: 
unknown in Great Britain fill 1900, wher 
it was found in two Irish counties. By 
1907 it had spread to no fewer than 2.1 
counties. In respect to the damage done 
by the disease, Dr. Pethybridge says, ‘As 
regards Ireland, it is no extreme view o 
the case to state that the losses have beer 
in many cases most serious, and unles: 
the disease is checked we are threatened 
with nothing less, practically, than the 
total loss. of . the. profitable cultivation o;- 
the Gooseberry as a bush fruit.’ What i; 
true of Ireland is true also of Essex. 1 
will gladly give any help to Essex fruit 
growers who care to write to me on the; 
subject.” 
