664 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 17, 1908. 
Viburnums for Forcing. 
The familiar Guelder Rose or Snowball 
Tree is quite hardy and well-known in the 
shrubbery, and dwarf specimens forced into 
early bloom under glass are most attractive 
when laden with a profusion of globulous 
blossoms. Any time this month, as soon as 
the leaves have fallen, they may be potted 
up in good, sound loam, or they may be 
purchased, if desired,, already .established in 
pots. - 
It is advantageous to plunge them first in 
frost-proof frames, bringing them into the 
mild heat as required, it being generally 
found that from eight to ten weeks will 
suffice to. bring them into flower, the length 
of time of course depending upon the tem¬ 
perature. During the period of growth 
plenty of water must be given, although they 
do not seem to need any feeding up with 
manure. 
Housing the “’Mums.” 
It is essential that a fine day be chosen for 
bringing the Chrysanthemums into the green¬ 
house, which should be thoroughly cleansed 
previously in readiness for them.. Preven¬ 
tion is better than cure, and even if the 
dreaded mildew is not apparent on the 
plants, it is as well, ere they are housed, to 
give them a thorough spraying with sulphur 
water, or what is perhaps preferable, a pinch 
of sulphide of potassium in half a gallon 
of liquid, -seeing at the time that the 
underside of the foliage gets its fair share 
of the wett : ng. 
When safely under glass, give them all 
the ventilation possible, both night and day, 
at any rate so long as open weather con¬ 
tinues, and even when slight, frosts make 
themselves felt; it is better to give fire heat 
to counteract it than to close the ventilators 
and stop the free current of air. 
Raising^ Ferns from Spores. 
Many of the beautiful greenhouse and 
stove Ferns, including the favourite Adian- 
tums, or Maidenhair, may be raised in this 
manner, and every amateur should try this 
most interesting experiment, for if carefully 
carried out some amount of success is as¬ 
sured. Examine the mature fronds of old 
plants and select those on which the spores 
appear ripe. Put them in a paper bag and 
place on a sunny shelf, where, as they dry, 
the leaves will split and liberate the seed, 
which it is better to sow as soon as it is 
gathered. A shallowish seed-pan is the best 
receptacle for them, and over a thick layer 
of crocks the soil should be placed, leaving 
the surface somewhat uneven. Then water 
thoroughly with a fine-rosed can, and after 
allowing it to drain scatter the spores thinly, 
not covering them, but a slight sprinkling 
of fine silver sand may be shaken over the 
whole, if considered necessary. After it is 
sown no top-watering must be indulged in, 
but the pan may be stood in a saucer m 
which a little is kept and covered with a 
sheet of glass to prevent undue evaporation. 
Place the pan in a propagating frame, if 
one is available, and remove the_ glass now 
and again for the purpose of wiping off any 
superfluous moisture; then, when the tiny 
fernlets appear, prick them off as soon as 
they become large enough to handle, but care 
and a light hand are necessary for the ope¬ 
ration, as at this stage they are very tender. 
Greenhouse Climbers. 
Many of these, such as Clematis, Tassi- 
floras etc., have made such rampant growth 
under a liberal summer treatment that it is 
as well to prick out any superfluous or weak 
shoots in order to admit more light through 
the foliage to the plants on the stagings 
below although the pruning proper may be 
deferred for a while. It is a good plan, in¬ 
stead of letting them ramble at will all over 
the roof, to train them to on,e or _two wires 
stretched from the rafters, limiting each 
plant to its allotted space. 
Stage or Show Auriculas. 
There is little doubt that Auriculas, which, 
by the by, belong to the Primula family, 
have again become exceedingly popular after 
some years of comparative neglect. 
The show sorts, which include the green, 
grey or white-edged varieties, in addition to 
the seifs, are really superb, although some 
of the best strains of alpines, when cleanly 
grown under glass, with the centre unspotted 
and intact, run them very Close as regards 
actual beauty. During the winter months 
they will do best on a light, airy shelf in 
the greenhouse, whither they should now be 
removed from the frames. No more water 
than is necessary should be given them, and 
damage is often caused by moisture being 
allowed to lodge in the crown of the plants. 
Look over them occasionally in order to re¬ 
move all dead foliage, but be sure that only 
the really withered ones are detached, as 
otherwise they are liable to bleed. 
_, G. A. F. 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
Calanthes. 
The deciduous section of Calanthes will 
now have completed their growth, with the 
exception of C. Regnieri, which flowers 
much later in the season and will often con¬ 
tinue in full growth up to the end of No¬ 
vember. The C. vestita section among the 
species and such well-known and popular 
hybrids as C. Veitchii, C. Bryan, C. Wil¬ 
liam Murray, C. Harrisii, and numerous 
others are producing their flower scapes, 
which must have every encouragement. 
Where growth is completed, the leaves will 
naturally commence to decay and less water 
will be required than that usually afforded 
during the growing season, but it is, in 
my mind, quite a mistake to withhold water 
from Calanthes immediately the leaves com¬ 
mence to go back. I certainly think water 
should be given with discretion right up to 
the time that the flower scape commences to 
expand, and in some instances until the time 
the flowers expand. One advantage is af¬ 
forded by the early ripening of the foliage, 
for.as the leaves decay they may be removed, 
and .we are thus able to afford more light 
to the advancing flower scape, and the plants 
may also be placed closer together, thus af¬ 
fording opportunities of space for other 
plants requiring the full benefit of the light 
at this season of the year. 
The moisture in the atmosphere of a house 
where Calanthes are flowering should be 
kept within limits, there is nothing spoils 
the effectiveness in the display of Calanthes 
so much as to have their flower scapes dis¬ 
figured by black or damp spotting. There 
is nothing more likely to aid and develop 
this undesirable spotting so much as to have 
the atmosphere of the house in a state of 
saturation, when sudden changes take place 
in the outside temperature, causing a corre¬ 
sponding low reading of the thermometer 
in the houses. I consider that once a day 
damping the house is ample, and this should 
be done sufficiently early to permit of the 
moisture thus given to become distilled 
before the cool evening temperatures are 
reached. If there is a possibility of exces¬ 
sive atmospheric moisture it may be dimin¬ 
ished by using a little extra artificial heat 
and opening the ventilators. If the weather 
is at all favourable the leeward roof venti¬ 
lators are the most serviceable for the reduc¬ 
tion of atmospheric moisture. The tem¬ 
perature of the house in which the Calanthes 
are producing their flower scapes should not 
be permitted to fall below 65 degs. with 
from s to tq degs. higher temperature with 
sun heat during the brightest parts of the 
day. 
Seedling Calanthes. 
Of late years Calanthes have become an¬ 
nually more popular, and in consequence 
are more extensively grown. So that inter 
crossing among the different species am 
hybrids are now much more in evidence ii 
amateurs’ collections. Therefore a note 01 
their treatment may be of advantage. I con 
sider that young plants of any Orchi 
should be kept under practically growin 
conditions of the atmosphere right up to th 
time that they are sufficiently strong to prc 
duce their flowers. They will frequentli 
lose their leaves during the winter. Watd 
must then be given with discretion and wit, 
the moist-growing atmosphere about thef 
they do not remain long in a dormant stati 
and as soon as the growth commences po 
ting should be attended to and every ei 
couragement given to facilitate free growth. 
H. J. Chapman. 
- 4-44 - 
U.H.B. and P.S. 
The twenty-second anniversary dinm 
of the United Horticultural Benefit ai 
Provident Society will take place at tl 
Waldorf Hotel, Aldwych, W.C., < 
October 15th, when Dr. Robert Boxa 
will preside. Further particulars m. 
be obtained of the Sec., Mr.'W. Collin 
9, Martindale Road, Balham, S.W. 
Midland Daffodil Society. 
This Society will hold their 1909 el 
hibition on April 22nd and 23rd, in tl 
Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmin 
ham, when prizes amounting to abo 
/175 will be offered. The joint ho 
secretary, Mr. Herbert Smith (Ten 
Street, Birmingham), in forwarding . 
copy of the tenth annual report and t 
schedule of prizes for 1909, which git; 
the names of all the winning flowers 
the last exhibition, points out that 1 
framing the schedule the Committee ha: 
adopted the. new classification drawn ) 
by the R.H.S., which it is hoped wl 
dispel any doubts as to what class r 
section a particular flower belongs. 
Wedding Festivities at Lowfield Nurserie: 
In order to celebrate the recent m • 
riage of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Che;: 
second daughter (Miss Helena- M. Che 
to Mr. E. Wright, of Manchester, thcfii 
of Messrs. J. Cheal and Sons, Lowfi; 
Nurseries, Crawley, Sussex, invited c 
resident employees, their wives 
families, to the number of 250, to sp<c 
and enjoy a day on the place, leave 
business out of the question for the tic 
being. Mr. and Mrs. Wright had just ■ 
turned from their honeymoon in Swit;r 
land. Some hours were spent at f<t 
ball, stoolball and other games, wlh 
many contented themselves in rambl 1 - 
all over the 110 acres of nursery gro u 
and plantations. At 5 o’clock all v 
called together to a meat tea in a la? 
marquee erected for the occasion. ' 
Joseph Cheal later on made a honl 
speech offering a warm welcome to 11 
On behalf of the family he thanked tl s 
present for the handsome present wl: 
they had made to the bride and bib 
groom. Mr. Alexander Cheal also sjk 
in terms appropriate to the occasion n 
conveyed the thanks of the firm to h 
staff for the support thev had given n: 
tablishing the nursery. Some of the ” 
ployees had been with the firm fo - 
years, and Frank Killick had been 
them from the start—4° years. 1 
C. W. Chantler, foreman of the tree n 
shrub department, and Mr. R. H. -J 
ton, foreman of the floral departin' 
spoke in appropriate terms on the o-. 
sion. The evening was rendered ew) 
able by a magic lantern entertammei. 
