August 17, 1907. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
549 
3uld be used, and, if made fairly firm, 
ort-jointed and floriferous shoots will be 
oduced. I scarcely think that animal 
mure is wanted in the compost for these 
>ses in pots; artificials can always be given 
ter, if required. After potting, the plants 
ould again go outdoors, and be kept well 
ringed and carefully watered. A little 
ot water sprayed on occasionally will keep 
wn greenfly, and besides this and mildew 
tie else troubles the Tea Rose. 
“ Sunnyside.” 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
iwing Seed. 
The summer flowering section of Gypripe- 
ums will now be ripening their last sea- 
n’s fertilised capsules. It is desirable to 
,ve the pods as ripe as possible, so that the 
ad may be readily shaken free. If a piece 
tissue paper is fastened around the seed 
■d immediately it shows signs of splitting 
e seed will thus be secured, and the pod 
ay remain some time longer on the plant, 
if the capsule is removed from the plant 
:th a few inches of flower stalk, it may 
placed in a pan and suspended in a dry 
sition of the house in which the plants 
,ve been growing, where the seed will soon 
sen and be ready for sowing. When thus 
epared select some pots of some of the 
arm house section of Cyprdpediums. 
The plants most suitable for a seed bed 
e those which have been repotted suffi- 
;ntly long for the compost to become 
filed. Care must be observed to avoid 
y stagnant or decaying surface, also those 
lere the sphagnum moss, on the surface, is 
tely to grow too fast, and thereby bury 
e small seedlings. Having selected suit- 
le beds, the seed may be. carefully and 
inly sown over the surface; the seed 
oufd not all be sown on- the same pot. I 
ve frequently had instances where we have 
wn seed on several pots, and although 
ey have been subjected to the same treat- 
;nt and conditions in every way, the seed 
ry come as thick as possible on one or more 
the pots, and altogether fail to germinate 
the remainder. ' 
The principal requirements after the seed 
s been sown, is to see that the surface of 
e compost is not allowed to remain in a 
y state for any prolonged period. No 
rm is done by occasionally permitting the 
rface of a seed bed to become dry; it al- 
rys seems to me to aid in keeping the sur- 
ce from becoming sour and stagnant, c nd 
rs retains the compost in a suitable state to 
i germination. Care must also ts taken 
ten watering to prevent the seed from being 
ished over the sides of the pots when ap- 
! ving moisture. I am quite sure that many 
the failures to procure seedlings is 
used by careless watering. If the surface 
at all dry, or even the seed the least bit 
y, they are so light and so easily floated 
at filling the pot with water, so that it 
'ws over the sides, is quite sufficient to 
■at the bulk of the seeds over the sides of 
e pots to destruction. This not only 
■plies to Cypripediums, but to practically 
1 Orchid seeds, even where they are sown 
beds prepared for the germination of the 
fierent epiphytal sections of our Orchid 
milies. 
Cattleyas, Laelias, etc., may be sown now, 
though they do not germinate so rapidly 
in the spring there is plenty of time yet 
get the seedlings sufficiently large and 
jrong on a seed bed to successfully with- 
md our winters, and they will be ready 
r pricking off early in the new year. 
2rmination of Odontoglossums. 
The germination and successful rearing 
Odontoglossum seedlings is at the present 
He engaging the attention of all Orchid 
ecialists, perhaps more than anything else, 
has only been quite recently that any idea 
could be formed as to the progress that was 
being made in this direction, although at 
one time it was considered well nigh im¬ 
possible to germinate seed of the Odonto¬ 
glossums with any degree of certainty. 
There can be no question but that difficulties 
are now pretty generally removed, and that 
plants are being raised with less difficulty 
than is found with many of the other genera 
of Orchids. The secret of success lies chiefly 
in the inclusion of some form of leaf soil in 
the potting compost of the Odontoglossum 
plant on which the seed is sown. There is 
another item also, which should not be over¬ 
looked. Odontoglossums are better culti¬ 
vated now than they have ever been gene¬ 
rally. There can be no doubt that the 
slightly warmer treatment and better care 
bestowed in the cultivation of the plants has 
gone a long way to aid the successful ger¬ 
mination of Odontoglossum seeds. 
H. J. Chapman. 
-4-+4- 
Horticultural Societies’ 
Diary 
of Forthcoming Events. 
Abbreviations used. 
A.— Association | H. — Horticultural 
Am.—Amateurs j M.I.—Mutual Improve 
Ohy.—Chrysanthemum | ment 
c.m.—Committee meeting m.m.—Monthly meeting 
Oott.—Cottage or Cottagers 1 S.—Society 
D.—District w.m.—Weekly meeting 
G.—Gardening or gardener 
Thus :—The Templeton G. Am. and Cott. M.I.H.S, 
Gardeners, Amateurs’ and Cottagers’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Horticultural Society. 
August. 
19th. — Horsforth G.M.l.S. (w.m.); Shir¬ 
ley and D.G. and Am. A. (m.m.). 
20th.—R.H.S. (bi-monthly exhibition, 
1 to 6 p.m. Lecture at 3 p.m. by 
Mr. A. Bedford, on “Water 
Lilies ”) ; Brighton and Sussex 
H.S. (show 2 days); Rothesay H.S. 
(show); Ancient S. of York Florists 
(m.m.). 
21 st.—Ide Hill G.S. (m.m.); Crawley and 
D.G.M.I.A. (visit to “Buchan Hill,” 
Crawley). 
23rd. — Highland H.S. (show at Inver¬ 
ness), 
24th. — Leeds Paxton S. (w.m.). 
-f+4- 
Croydon and District H.M.I.S. 
On the 24th ult. the members of the 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mu¬ 
tual Improvement Society took an even¬ 
ing out to Woodhall, Dulwich, S.E. The 
members, to the number of forty, 
favoured by fine weather, found the visit 
a most enjoyable one. The gardens of 
J. C. Eno,' Esq., are situated about five 
and a half miles from Westminster, and 
being on fairly high ground command 
some of the best views of London on the 
south side of the Thames. The party 
was conducted round the gardens and 
through the grounds by the gardener, Mr. 
R. B. Leach. He had much to show 
them in the massing of various plants 
and the harmony of colour produced by 
the planting arrangements. There was a 
fine mass of Hollyhocks backed up by 
trees, likewise clumps of Delphiniums in 
their best garb surrounded by dwarfer 
subjects. The Rose garden, with its 
varied occupants, such as ramblers and 
dwarf Roses, proved very interesting. 
The glasshouses were also eagerly in¬ 
spected, and the members had much to 
learn about fruit, Ferns, Orchids, and 
other useful subjects all in clean and 
well-cared for condition. The party re¬ 
mained until darkness put a stop to fur¬ 
ther inspection, and were highly pleased 
with their outing. 
-- 
Sweet Pea Nancy Perkins. 
The flowers of this variety are different 
in colour on the two faces. The back of 
the standards and wings is rich orange, 
while the face maj’ be described as sal¬ 
mon-rose. Award of merit to Mr. H. A. 
Perkins, York Lodge, Reigate, who 
showed it before the National Sweet Pea 
Society on July 16th. 
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker. 
The venerable Sir Joseph Hooker, the 
greatest living British botanist, who re¬ 
cently entered upon his ninety-first year, 
has just been enrolled among the limited 
number of members of the Order of Merit. 
To Sir Joseph Hooker and his father, also 
a botanist, we owe the supreme excellence 
of Kew Gardens; his father was for many 
years its director (until 1865), and Sir 
Joseph Hooker followed in that office 
until 1885. Now he is living in retirement 
at Sunningdale. Sir Joseph went as as¬ 
sistant surgeon on the Erebus in Sir 
James Ross's expedition of 1839-43 to the 
Antarctic. He has taken part in a great 
many other expeditions, and has written 
a number of valuable works on the flora 
of the countries he has visited. 
TRADE NOTICES. 
MACKENZIE AND MONCUR. 
We are in receipt of a catalogue of horti¬ 
cultural buildings, general estate buildings, 
pavilions, etc., from Messrs. Mackenzie and 
Moncur, Ltd., of Edinburgh. The catalogue is, 
in fact, devoted to a series of illustrations 
representing houses and ranges which have 
been built by the firm in various parts of Great 
Britain, Ireland, and on the Continent. The 
first picture represents the works and offices 
at Balcarres Street, Edinburgh, and this is 
succeeded by other offices of the firm. A 
bird's-eye view is also given of the Royal 
Gardens, Windsor, where the firm has done so 
much for the late Queen Victoria-, and more 
recently for the King. Ranges of glasshouses 
are also shown at Sandringham; Botanic Gar¬ 
dens, Edinburgh; Royal Gardens, Kew) and at 
many private demesnes in all parts of the 
country. We commend this catalogue to those 
who would like to see views of various types 
of hothouses for the cultivation of plants and 
fruit, as well as conservatories. 
DYSELEINE INSECTICIDE. 
The above is the name of a preparation for 
killing soft-bodied insects, such as aphides, 
white fly, Pear midge, red spider, thrips, 
American blight, and other enemies of that 
class which attack Vines, Peaches, Nectarines, 
Pigs, Roses, Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, and 
other plants of that description. The prepara¬ 
tion is in the form of a thin, paint-like liquid 
resembling cream and which is sold in bottles, 
pint flasks, pint tins, quart bottles and gal¬ 
lon drums up to a size bolding 40 gallons. 
Being a highly concentrated insecticide, it is 
only necessary to dilute it in certain propor¬ 
tions in cold or hot water and pour in the 
given quantity of Dyseleine. This is usually 
at the rate of 1| oz. to 2 ozs. of Dyseleine to 
the gallon of « alter, with which to syringe the 
plants affected. At first they appear white 
and milky from the liquid upon them, but 
this disappears as it dries, although not 
washed off. We have tried it upon Roses, Wil¬ 
lows, China Pinks, Antirrhinums, Violas and 
some other garden plants at the rate of 2 ozs. 
to the gallon of water, and most of the 
aphides disappeared at the first application, 
though there were other kinds which required 
a second application. We have quite a num¬ 
ber of species of aphides, and find the black 
aphides upon Gentaureas require the liquid to 
be pretty strong to dislodge them. While 
about this operation we disturbed an ants’ 
nest and syringed the ants, and the nest and 
they quite disappeared from that spot. Dyse¬ 
leine is manufactured by Messrs. James Dy- 
§on and Co., Atlas Works, Elland, Yorks. 
