722 
whether young or old, at once, for they only 
give a lot of trouble and disappointment in 
bad weather. Of course, green fruits may 
be ripened after cutting, either in the 
kitchen window or in a dark cupboard. 
Carnation Rust. 
This seems very prevalent on pot plants 
this season, doubtless owing to the heavy and 
constant rains we have had of late. If 
taken in hand early the disease may often 
be checked by snipping off the tips of the 
leaves with a pair of scissors and burning 
them. In cases where more of the plant is 
affected spraying with dilute Bordeaux mix¬ 
ture has proved the best remedy. A little 
sugar or treacle should be added to the mix¬ 
ture to make it adhere to the foliage. 
Sunnyside. 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
Winter Treatment of Orchids. 
It is during the winter months, especially 
the closing months of the year, that we ex¬ 
perience the greatest difficulty in the treat¬ 
ment of Orchids. During the present season 
the outside temperature has been standing for 
two or three weeks between 40 and 50 de¬ 
grees, and in that period we in this district 
have experienced an unusually large rain¬ 
fall, causing the atmosphere to become prac¬ 
tically saturated. With such conditions pre¬ 
vailing, very little artificial heat is required 
to provide the desired temperatures even in 
hot-houses, and this, combined with lack of 
sunlight and the moist conditions prevailing, 
naturally causes the retention of moisture 
about the roots of our plants and in the 
atmosphere for lengthened periods. If there 
is one thing more desirable than another in 
the cultivation of Orchids at the present sea¬ 
son of the year, the prevention of stagnation 
is, I think, the most essential. It appears 
to me to be the governing factor in success¬ 
ful cultivation. With this dull moist 
weather how is it possible to expect to 
ripen recently developed pseudo-bulbs with 
a saturated atmosphere in such a manner 
that we may even hope for successful results 
when the flowering season is reached, or 
how even with expanding flowers can the 
substance and texture so essential to the dis¬ 
play of their best qualities be obtained? To 
secure suitable conditions for our plants 
must therefore be our constant care, if we 
wish for satisfactory results. We .must be 
careful that only sufficient moisture is pre¬ 
sent in the atmosphere to retain the plants 
in a normal state. Damping the floors, 
stages, etc., must be our first consideration, 
and in this we must be guided by the out¬ 
side conditions. In bright weather, and 
where damping is only now done once a day, 
we can afford to be more liberal than would 
be the case with less favourable conditions 
prevailing. Damping should at all times be 
done sufficiently early in the day to permit 
of the excess of moisture becoming distilled 
before the cooler evening temperatures are 
reached. 
Affording root moisture is an equally im¬ 
portant item. 'Carelessness in watering is, 
perhaps, the principal cause of the unsatis¬ 
factory cultivation of Orchids. Even with 
the most unfavourable surroundings and un¬ 
suitable conditions for culture a great deal 
can be done by the discreet use of the water¬ 
ing-can. I have long advocated in the Gar¬ 
dening World that more attention should 
be given to this subject. One of the greatest 
difficulties with which I have had to con¬ 
tend has been to induce the young gardeners 
whom I have had with me to use necessary 
discretion in watering. Therefore my reason 
for impressing this point on the minds of 
amateur readers. I would particularly 
mention the desirability of permitting plants, 
even in a growing state, to become dry be¬ 
tween waterings. The compost should al¬ 
THE GARDENING WORLD. November 9, 1907. 
ways be allowed to become so reasonably 
dry that shrivelling may be avoided. 
If plants have been allowed to remain wet 
at the roots for any prolonged period artifi¬ 
cial heat should be used, and with the 
proper use of the ventilation at command 
d’ryer conditions of the atmosphere will be 
secured and the danger thus counteracted. 
In the neighbourhood of London and other 
large towns, where the detrimental effects of 
fogs are experienced, the use of the venti¬ 
lators is out of the question. Attention must 
therefore be paid to the damping of the 
floors, etc., and desirable conditions, as far 
as possible, be thus provided. 
H. J. Chapman. 
-- 
Horticultural Societies’ 
Diary 
of Forthcoming Events. 
Abbreviations used. 
A.—Association H.—Horticultural 
Am.—Amateurs M.I.—Mutual Improve- 
Ohy.—Chrysanthemum ment 
c.m.—Committee meeting m.m.—Monthly meeting 
Oott.—Cottage or Cottagers S.—Society 
D.—District w.m.—Weekly meeting 
G.—Gardening or gardener 
Thus :—The Templeton G. Am. and Oott. M.I.H.S. 
Gardeners, Amateurs’ and Oottagers’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Horticultural Society. 
November. 
nth. — Horsforth G.M.I.S. (w.m.); Has¬ 
tings, St. Leonards and D.H.M.I.S. 
(m.m.). 
12th.—R.H.S. (Exhibition of Flowers and 
Fruit, 1 to 5 p.m. Lecture at 
3 p.m., by Mr. R. Irwin Lynch on 
“Succulent Plants”); Birmingham 
and Midland Counties Chy. S. 
(Show, 3 days); Ipswich and East 
of England H.S. (Show, 2 days); 
Devon and Exeter H.S. (Show, 2 
days); Weston-super-Mare Chy. S. 
(Show at Knightstone). 
13th.—Ancient S. of York Florists (Show, 
3 days); Royal Botanical and H.S. 
of Manchester (Show, 3 days); 
Liverpool H.A. (Show, 2 days); 
Banbury Chy. S. (Show, 2 days); 
Faversham and D. Chy. A. (Show, 
2 days); Lewes and D. Chy. S. 
(Show, 2 days); Barnet and D. Chy. 
S. (Show, 2 days); Bath G. Debat¬ 
ing S. (Show, 2 days); Dulwich 
Chy. and H.S. (Show, 2 days); 
Gainsborough Chy. S. (Show, 2 
days); Aberystwyth Chy. S. 
(Show); Evesham Chy. S. (Show); 
Folkestone G.S. (Show); Reading 
Chy. S. (Show); Buxton and D. 
Chy. S. (Show). 
14th. — Scottish H.A. (Show at Edinburgh, 
3 days); Barnsley Chy. S. (Show, 
2 days); Ludlow Chy. S. (Show); 
Winchester Chy. S. (Show); St. 
Botolph’s (Colchester) Am. Chy. S. 
(Show); Cranbrook and Weald of 
Kent G. and Cott. M.I.S. (Show). 
15th. — Blackburn and D.H.S. (Show, 2 
days); Bradford and D. Chy. S. 
(Show, 2 days); Bush Hill Park and 
D. Chy. S. (Show, 2 days); Stockport 
and D. Chy. S. (Show, 2 days); 
Derby Chy. S. (Show, 2 days); 
Bolton H. and Chy. S. (Show, 2 
days); Huddersfield Chy. S. (Show). 
16th.—Corbridge D-G. Chy. S. (Show); 
Birstall- and D. Chy. S. (Show); 
Burton-on-Trent and Shobnall Chy. 
S. (Show). 
Cardiff H.S. 
The annual show for 1908 has been 
fixed for July 22nd and 23rd. Lord 
Ninian Crichton-Stuart has accepted the 
presidency for the coming year. 
Dundee H.A. 
The flower show held this year by the 
Dundee Horticultural Association re¬ 
sulted, we regret to hear, in a loss of 
^112 4s. 3d., brought about by the bad 
weather. The total expenditure was 
,£1,070 14s. iod., including £(284 14s. in 
prize money, £(154 5s. 2d. for the services 
of the Hussars, and £122 2s. for music. 
It was decided to vote £300 for prize 
money at the next show. 
Wargrave Gardeners’ Association. 
At the last meeting of the above Asso¬ 
ciation, the hon. secretary, Mr. H. 
Coleby, F.R.H.S., read a very interesting 
paper entitled “ Life in My Garden.” 
Animal life only was referred to—birds, 
flies, spiders, beetles, butterflies, moths, 
caterpillars, aphis, bees, wasps, ants, 
woodlice, earwigs, centipedes, slugs, 
snails, worms, frogs, toads, moles, and 
hedgehogs being the principal creatures 
brought under notice. A good discussion 
followed, some speakers being for and 
others against certain creatures men¬ 
tioned by Mr. Coleby, who was accorded 
a hearty vote of thanks at the close. Mr. 
D. Turner, Wargrave Hill Gardens, was 
awarded a cultural certificate for six 
excellent melons. 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association. 
The first fortnightly meeting of the 
present session was held in the Abbey 
Hall, Mr. W. Turnham presiding over 
a large attendance of members. Be¬ 
fore proceeding to the ordinary business 
the chairman, on behalf of members of 
the Association, asked the secretary’s ac¬ 
ceptance of a solid gold double-chain al¬ 
bert and pair of field glasses, as a 
memento of their kind regard and appre¬ 
ciation of services rendered to the Asso¬ 
ciation. A silver plate on the case bore 
the following inscription : “ Presented to 
Mr. H. G. Cox, by members of the Read¬ 
ing Gardeners’ Association, as a token of 
affectionate regard.” The hon. secretary 
suitably replied. 
The subject for the evening was “ Hardy 
Ferns,” and was introduced by Mr. T. 
Tunbridge, who first dwelt upon the 
different positions in which Ferns delight 
to revel, specially mentioning that it was 
a sheltered glen which gave the best idea 
of ferny beauty, where is found the Lady 
Fern, with its delicate plumage, the Oak 
Fern, with its moonlight-tinted . fronds, 
and the Beech Fern, with its dark-green 
lucent rosettes of barren fronds. Soils 
and conditions under which different 
varieties should be grown were touched 
upon, also the raising of Ferns from 
spores, and details as to culture in pots. 
Descriptions of the most beautiful varie¬ 
ties were given, including Nephrodium 
Filix-mas, Asplenium Filix-femina, Scolo- 
pendrium vulgare, Osmunda regalis, Cys- 
topteris fragilis, Nephrodium dilatatum, 
Polypodiums, etc. A discussion followed^ 
sustained by Messrs. Turnham, Tun¬ 
bridge, Powell, Cox, Townsend, Exler, E. 
J. Dore, Stanton, Harris, Lees, Alexan¬ 
der, and Blencowe. Additional interest 
was added to the lecture by a collection 
of over 70 varieties of hardy Ferns staged 
by Messrs. Tunbridge and E. J. Dore. 
