506 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
Jew 5, 1913. 
❖ 
i WORK FOR 
THE ORCHID HOUSES. 
SUMMER - FLOWERING CYPRIPE. 
BIUMS.—due'll srpecies as Cypripedium bar- 
batum, in its varied forms, C. callosum, C. c. 
Sanderaj, C. Curtisi, C. Lawrenceanum, 
and their numerous beautiful hybrids, form 
an interesting’ and useful class ot* free-dower¬ 
ing plants that are all the more or less ser¬ 
viceable in gardens generally. The plants 
may be used for decorative purposes, their 
foliage being almost as attractive as the 
flowers; and the durability of the latter, 
whether cut or allowed to remain on the 
plants, leaves nothing to be desired. The 
plants are easily accommodated in a warm 
gp^eenhouse or a moist position in a stove, 
and require very little attention, excepting 
ample root moisture during the season of ac¬ 
tive growth. During the stages when plants 
have only two or three gjrowths annual re¬ 
potting is desirable, but in large specimens 
potting should not be done more often than 
IS necessary, but it is well to thoroughly over¬ 
haul the surface of the compost every year. 
REPOTTING.—^The best time to rep^ is 
shortly after the flowering period. New 
breaks are then produced, or where the new 
growths are in a more advanced state the 
new roots make their appearance, and these 
quickly become establish^ in the fresh com¬ 
post with the least possible risk of injury 
from repotting. In the case of such sp^ies 
as C. Lawrenceanum, the plants continue in 
most instances to make an annual succession 
of growths, and, while the older ones may con¬ 
tinue to retain their leaves in good condi¬ 
tion, they can seldom be induced 'to produce 
growth from their base, unless something 
happens to the leading growth or the rhizome 
be severed. This severing of the rhizomes not 
only produc^ larger specimens by increasing 
the number^! lesSing growths, or those from 
which flowers are produced, but it also 
affords the opportunity of increasing stock 
where it is desirable. The potting compost 
for all forms belonging to the teseelated sec¬ 
tion should contain very little, if any, loam. 
Peat and sphagnum moss will meet their re. 
quirements with plenty of broken crocks in- 
^rmixed to render the compost porous. 
CYPRIPEDIUM NIVEUM and its allies, 
such as C. bellatulum, C. Godefroyae, and C. 
G. leucochilum, where a suitable situation 
is found to meet their requirements, are weU 
worthy of every consideration. There is very 
little difficulty in growing them when 
they are first imported for a year or two, 
but the general experience is that they 
rapidly deteriorate under artificial condi¬ 
tions. We find in the case of C. niveum in 
particular, that the plants should not be dis¬ 
turbed too frequently, and when they are 
attended to for potting requirements a com¬ 
post of a lasting nature should be used. We 
find that yellow turfy loam, intermixed with 
plenty of lime rubble, suits thm best. Pro¬ 
vide liberal drainage, and during the winter 
and autumn give only sufficient root mois¬ 
ture to retain the foliage in a normal 
plump state.— ^H. J. Chapman, Oakwood 
Dardens. 
STOVE PLANTS. 
EUPHORBIA (POINSETTIA) PULCHER- 
RIMA.—^The earliest rooticd plants should 
now be shifted into their flowering pots, a 
suitable compost consisting cf two parts 
loam, one leaf-mould, one peat, half part 
sand, and a little burnt earth and dried cow 
manure. For a few days after repotting keep 
them fairly close, shade from bright sun¬ 
shine, and maintain close growing condi¬ 
tions. Remove the shading in time to retain 
a fair amount of sunheat. Pot up later plants 
as they are ready, and, should there not be 
a sufficient number, it may be increased by 
THE WEEK. 
reducing the tope of some of last year’s plants 
to the lower eyes that show signs of break¬ 
ing. Carefully shake away the old ball of 
sou, and repot, using 48’s, with the view to 
transferring to a larger size when ready. 
Such plants will give two or more useful 
bracts often as good as many of the young 
plants. When well growing, rather less 
shade and more air will be necessary, and a 
little ventilation on mild nights will assist 
in the production of healthy short-jointed 
wood. Water must be carefiilly applied, as 
must also artificial or other manures, for 
the roots are easily damaged, and when this 
happens the plants suffer from a loss of 
foliage and pr^uce poorly-developed bracts. 
PALMS.—Stove palms are now growing 
freely, and will require frequent synngings, 
and the house generally should be kept 
rather moist. Occasional applications of 
manure, liquid or. artificial, and soot water, 
will assist in.the development of clean, 
healthy leaves; while, a little soot sprinkled 
between the pots will give off healthy fumes 
and assist in. combatifig insect pests. This, 
by tho way, will be foun^ a useful practice 
with most plants when growing under moist 
conditions. Where the time can be spared, 
sponging over the foHage will be repaid by 
the improved appearance of the plants. 
STREPTOCARPUSES.—Those raised from 
seed sown in spring may be transferred to 
54-si^ed pots. These will be valuable for late 
flowering, and, given careful attention dur¬ 
ing the few months’ comparative rest in 
the meantime, will prove valuable in spring 
for shifting into 5^-inch pots to form the 
early and main batches for next season. 
GLOXINIAS. — As the earliest flowering 
plants pass out of bloom, such as are con¬ 
sidered worth keeping may be removed to a 
warm frame or pit, continuing to water until 
they show signs of ripening, when water 
may be gradually withheld. When tho¬ 
roughly matiy^ed, transfer to their resting 
quarters. Should any variety be considered 
particularly worth propagating, this may be 
done by means of leaf cuttings. Seedlings 
will stall require the growing conditions 
the stove.—^H. Prime, Hatfield House Gar¬ 
dens. 
FRUITS UNDER GLASS. 
PEACHES.—As eoon as all the fruits have 
been gathered from the trees, the latter 
should be frequently syringed to keep the 
foliage clean and healthy, this being a matter 
of the first importance, as the proper ripen¬ 
ing of the wood, the plumping up of the buds, 
and the next season’s crop will depend upon 
it. Old trees and others that have been in 
bearing some time should receive frequent 
applications of diluted liquid manure, as this 
will prove of great assistance to the trees. 
Never allow the trees to become in the least 
dry at the roots from now onwards until the 
leaves drop naturally, or bud dropping in 
the spring is sure to follow. Keep the ven¬ 
tilators wide open night and day, and if the 
roof lights are removable so much the 
better, as these may be removed, cleaned, re¬ 
paired, and painted if necessary. 
SUCCESSION HOUSES which contain ripe 
fruit should be xept fully ventilated night 
and day, as by these means the high^t 
flavour is secur^. Examine the trees daily 
when the fruits are cool, and gather all that 
are ready. A little practice will enable 
anyone to discern when a fruit is fit to 
gather. Place the fruits in an airy room on 
a soft surface, and keep each day’s gathering 
separate. Trees which are swelling up a 
li^vy crop of fruit should be liberally as¬ 
sisted with liquid and other stimulants. 
Pinch all gross shoots and any lateral 
growths, and otherwise keep the foliage clean 
and healthy by freely syringing it in the 
mornings and again at shutting-uptime ,ith 
clear soft water. Push aside the^ foliage u 
the peaches change colour, to fullv exDosA 
them, always remembering that, as a 
the higher the colour the better the flavour’ 
LATE HOUSES.—Finally, thin the fruiti 
in these houses, if not already done, reserr 
ing all the best-placed fruits. If the tre« 
are all right at the roots there need be no 
apprehension of fruit dropping at a later 
stage. Attend to tying and training and 
avoid overcro\\'ding; keep the syringe goiM 
vigorously, feed liberally, and apply a go^ 
mulch of ho-rse-droppin^ or other simibr 
material, as these mulches will -be found of 
benefit to trees carrying heavy crops. 
SUCCESSIONAL FIG HOUSES.-These 
will now be supplying ripe fruits, and a 
drier atmosphere will be necessary. Syring. 
ing will have to be done sparingly, and tmi 
only after all ripe fruits are gathered. The 
best flavoured fruits are those that are not 
picked until they are near bursting, but for 
travelling a long distance they must U 
picked in a tender but not too ripe stage. 
Later trees from which only one crop u 
gathered should have abundance of air and 
copious waterings at the roots to obtain large 
fruits of the highest quality. Do not pinck 
the points of the shoots, but remove alto* 
gether any growths which cause overcrowd¬ 
ing, and any fruits which show after the 
main crop is thinned should be removed.—F. 
Jordan, Warter Priory Gardens. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
BORDER CARNATIONS.—In many in- 
stances the effects of the past wet winter and 
spring are still very evident among border 
carnations; not only are flowers scarce, ^ 
the side growths also; in fact, I have noticed 
that many plants of some varieties are not 
producing any growths at all, but simply 
solitary flower stems. This is far from l^ing 
satisfactory, as another season’s display is m 
danger owing to the shortage of young plants. 
Plants which are to he treated should hart 
the surface soil between them lightly moved 
with a small hand-fork, previous to putting 
down the soil in which the young growth »rt 
to be layered; a mixture of light sandy wu wui 
be found suitable for the purpoM. In 
paring the growths strip all basal leaves oa. 
and make an incision with a sharp w 
quite three parts of the way through i 
stem transversely, below a joint, and caiu 
it upwards for an inch; this is of 
portance, for unless the stem is sufficrtn^ 
severed the young growths ^ 
enough nourishment from the old p^ 
keep them going without a check, , 
sequently the formationi of ^ 
\\'hen pegging down, the tips of ^ 
should be brought up to nearly an p s 
position to prevent reunion. 
THE ROCK GARDEN.—During 
hot, dry weather, many 
garden will be greatly Quite 
sional soakings of water, and tnis, h 
apart from those which require keep ng 
more or less damp condition co ^ 
such as Gentiana yerna 
monantbe, various primulas, har<^J H ^ 
diums, etc., as it is not always ^ 
make provision for them to ^ ^ 
establish themselves to such an es ^ 
defy a long drought, however well 
is copied in constructing a wK ^ ^ 
dentally there occur sites oi«r 
only a shallow depth of sod J 
partly hidden stones; such ^ 
beds during dry weather if not kept wat ^ 
All freshly-planted colonies ut 
looked after in this respect un 'suit- 
established. The present tune i® ^ ,, 
able for propagating varioi^ ^oca f jgfly 
many have palaed W 
speaking, the majority ot tne . 
kinds give no great difficulty al< 
tion, whether cuttings or d 
practised. A cold pit containing g ,’ 
soil is a most suitable place in jut* 
sert the cuttings, etc., ^-nd unt j^ge*** 
taken root the pit should be ^ B* 
well shaded during bright weather. 
Field, Wych CrosI Place Gardens. 
