122 
successive nights. Thrips, scale, and wcod- 
1 ice also will make their undesirable 
presence felt, and steps should be taken to 
eradicate them, the latter being hard to ex¬ 
terminate once the) r have fairly taken posses¬ 
sion. Mildew should- not affect the plants 
if the heating and ventilating arrangements 
are perfect and variations of temperature and 
moisture are avoided as much as possible, 
but should it do so, the foliage should be 
dusted with powdered sulphur, and some 
gardeners go to the extent of brushing over 
the hot-water pipes with a paste of sulphur 
and milk as a preventive; this at any rate 
can do no harm, and prevention is always 
better than cure. 
Propagating Verbena*. 
Verbenas are most useful either as pot 
plants or for bedding out; and for the latter 
purpose, seedlings may be raised galore by 
sewing now and treating as half-hardy an¬ 
nuals. The choice pot varieties, however, 
shouild be propagated by cuttings, which the 
old plants, placed in heat as advised some 
weeks ago, will provide in plenty. A good 
method is to half fill some five-inch pots 
with crocks, over which a layer of moss 
should be placed to prevent the soil washing 
through. Then fill to within one inch of the 
rim with fine sandy soil, finishing off with 
a layer of clean silver sand. 
Into this, the cuttings, taken about two 
inches in length, should be inserted, and 
the pot be placed in a brisk bottom heat. 
About fifteen days will see them rooted, an 
occasional spraying being necessary the 
while, after which the plantlets may be 
pricked off into boxes, or singly into small 
pots if desired. 
Show Pelargonium*. 
Young plants from August cuttings should 
ere now have received their final potting, if 
not, it should be attended to at once. The 
soil should be pressed firmly about the 
roots, using a potting stick if necessary, 
otherwise the plants are likely to grow 
weakly and long-jointed. Make sure that 
sufficient crocks are used to ensure perfect 
drainage when watered, which should be 
done sparingly, in fact, these plants should 
always be kept on the dry side. Those 
which are required for early blooming 
should receive no further stopping, the later 
ones may be pinched back if necessary to en¬ 
courage the formation of new shoots. A 
light position in the greenhouse is necessary 
for them, allowing always a free play of 
air about the plants, which should never be 
overcrowded. 
Increasing Malmaieons. 
These are really the finest of all the Car¬ 
nations, and we cannot have too many plants 
providing space permits. Cuttings will 
root freely this month with only a slight 
bottom heat, about 65 degrees being all- 
sufficient for the purpose. Strong shoots 
which grow from the stem should be se¬ 
lected, and cut cleanly through immediately 
beneath a joint, which may be just slit in 
an upward direction. Each cutting should 
be inserted singly in a three inch pot, and 
if a pencil or stick be first pushed some way 
into the soil and withdrawn, it will leave 
a hole, which may be filled up with silver 
sand. In this the action of rooting will be 
greatly accelerated, and when active growth 
commences, it is a sure sign that they have 
struck successfully. The young plants may 
then be removed to somewhat cooler quarters 
and gradually hardened off, and of course 
repotted when this becomes necessary. 
Spring v. Autumn Cinerarias. 
It may be my fancy, but I always think 
that the later-sown Cinerarias for spring 
blooming give better results than those which 
are hurried forward to flower in the early 
winter. 
Care must now be taken to guard against 
TUB UARDBN1NG WOULD 
their special enemy the greenfly, which se¬ 
cretes itself on the under-sides of the leaves.- 
Let the plants by all means have full benefits 
of light and air, but cold draughts must be. 
rigidly excluded, and plenty of moisture to 
the roots is necessary with an occasional ap¬ 
plication of some well-tried fertiliser when 
once the flower-buds become visible, as this 
increases the size and substance of the petals, 
and brings out the striking colours to per¬ 
fection. 
Potting Cyclamen. 
In their early stages these old favourites 
are somewhat slow of growth, but autumn- 
sown seedlings may now be shifted into 
three-inch pots. The compost should con¬ 
sist of good sound loam,- leaf-mould and 
well-decayed manure, with sufficient silver 
sand to keep it open; and unlike the Pelar¬ 
goniums just referred to, these plants require 
very lightly potting, that is to say, the soil, 
instead of being rammed down with the 
thumbs or potting-stick, should be merely 
settled around the roots by tapping gently 
on the bench or staging. When the weather 
is favourable syringe lightly, and, as the 
sun gains in power, some shade wild be 
necessary from its fierce rays. 
Treatment of Cacti. 
Cacti may be repotted any time within the 
next few weeks, although quite large speci¬ 
mens can be grown in small pots. Remove 
as much of the old soil from the roots as 
can be done without damaging them, and 
should any of them show signs of decay, the 
affected parts should be cleanly cut away. 
Clean pots should be used, one-third of 
their depth being filled with crocks, and a 
suitable compost can be made by well mixing 
together loam two parts, to one each of 
coarse sand and brick rubble. None but the 
horny-handed professional should attempt 
the repotting of these prickly favourites 
without gloves. G. A. F. 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
Oncidium*. 
At the present time and during the next 
few weeks, importations of the various 
species of Oncidiums will continue to reach 
this country. I have always contended that 
this class of plants is particularly suitable 
for the attention of amateurs. Oncidiums 
include O. marshallianum, O. varicosum, O. 
tigrinum, O. Forbesii, O. crispum with 
numerous intermediate forms. These, especi¬ 
ally during the first few years after im¬ 
porting, grow and flower satisfactorily in 
the cool and intermediate house tempera¬ 
tures. They are particularly useful for ex¬ 
hibition and decorative purposes. O. mar¬ 
shallianum is perhaps the most desirable of 
the above-mentioned varieties. The pseudo¬ 
bulbs should be cleaned of all dead and un¬ 
desirable matter as soon as received. Some 
prominent growers advocate laying the 
plants out on a bed of sphagnum moss or 
even ashes in an intermediate house for a 
few weeks to enable the pseudo-bulbs, should 
they have become at all shrivelled, to regain 
their normal plump condition, and as scon 
as the new growth makes its appearance 
or root action commences they are potted in 
the usual way. 
I prefer to pot them as soon as received. 
They may be potted in pans, pots or baskets, 
but in any case I would advise their being 
grown suspended from the roof or placed in 
a position within reasonable distance of the 
glass, so that they may obtain the full ad¬ 
vantage of the available light. The re¬ 
ceptacles should be well drained and the 
compost may consist of two parts fibrous 
peat and broken Oak or Beech leaves, the re¬ 
maining portion being made up of chopped 
sphagnum, finely broken crocks and sand. 
1 his should be made moderately firm. I 
February 20, 1509. 
would prefer an intermediate house temper; 
ture in which to grow them, but it shoul 
not be overlooked that the free-flowerin 
characteristics of this species tells so greatl 
on the constitution of the plants that the 
are rarely induced to retain their norms 
vigour for many years after being importec 
This matter should not be overlooked whe 
the flowering season is reached, and stej 
should be taken to relieve the strain on tl 
plant by cutting the flower spikes within 
reasonable time of their becoming fully e: 
panded. They require very little root mci 
ture when they are first received, in fa< 
a gentle spray overhead is ample until tl 
growths and roots become active, then mci 
liberal treatment may be afforded. 
Thrips and green fly are the most dai 
gerous insect pests, but these may be kept i 
check by spraying and fumigating at regula 
intervals. 
The other varieties and species I ha\ 
mentioned are not so robust in .growth s 
O. marshallianum, they are therefore be 
grown in pots or shallow pans; they do n< 
require a large bulk of potting compost an 
therefore ample drainage should be usee 
The compost, as mentioned above, will ah 
be found suitable for this section. With tl 
exception of 0. tigrinum, they are best give 
a temperature of 55 to 60 degrees. 0. t 
grinum should be grown in a light positic 
wi;h the Odontoglossums. Little root moi 
ture is necessary while the plants are in 
dormant state, but as soon as active growt 
commences ample root moisture may be a 
forded. Many prefer to grow 0 . var 
cosum on blocks of wood, but I cannot ac 
vocate this method of cultivation. 
H. J. Chapman. 
-f+4- 
Februeer, both cut and shear. 
Fogs in February mean frosts in May 
Lady Artist Gardener. 
The latest recruit to the ranks of pr< 
fessional garden designers is the Hoi 
Mrs. R. C. Grosvenor, who has adopte 
the style of “practical artist gardener” I 
describe the work that she does. Mr 
Grosvenor, says the “Daily Mail,” is 
musician and an artist. Her landscape 
have been exhibited in many gallerie 
and when she took up professionally th 
work of designing gardens for othe 
people, having had many years’ exper 
ence in gardens of her own, she found he 
artistic capabilities of great service. Bt 
sides the preliminary work of drawing 
garden plan to scale, she is able, in orde 
to show her clients what their gardens wi 
look like when time has helped hi 
labours, to paint pictures of them. 
William Cooper’s Spring Clearance Sale. 
For the last twenty years Mr. Willia 
Cooper, of 751, Old Kent Road, Londo: 
S.E., has had a spring clearance sale • 
the various houses and frames manufa 
tured in his establishment. The exte: 
of the sale can well be gleaned from tl 
catalogue, which is illustrated by nume> 
ous appliances and houses for all sorts • 
purposes, both in the garden, the poult; 
yard, and the kennel. This would mal 
a very suitable opportunity for those wl 
require appliances, whether for the ga 
den or poultry, as well as in the case 
those who keep rabbits and other pet 
We commend this extensive list to 0 
readers requiring such things. The orn 
mental side of gardening is represent' 
by summerhouses, rustic arches in woo 
wood boxes, garden seats, etc. 
