604 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
August 9, 1913. 
I WORK FOR THE WEEK. I 
A . . ♦ t 
THE ORCHID HOUSES. 
THE HEATING APPARATUS.—The pre¬ 
sent time affords an opprtunity of attending 
to any repairs, or replacing any defects in 
either the boiler or hot-water pipes. The 
outside conditions are such that, with a 
little discretion in damping and making use 
of the heat derived from the sun’s rays, by heat. They should not be exposed 
closing the houses early, the plants will not H^ht until the flower spikes are de- 
suffer if the fires are out for a few veloping, or the stalks will not be so long as 
while necessary repairs are being attend^ to. usu&y desired. Retarded clumps of 
ter, retarded crowns must be used. If a supply 
is required all through the season it is neces¬ 
sary to have a quantity sent at fortnightly 
intervals. They should be potted immedi- __, 
ately on arrival, using about ten or twelve Pasnberries are surface-rooting, and 
crowns for a Sin. pot. Thoroughly soak them ample nourishment 
shire Quarrenden crops well here, both oc 
standards and espaliers. 
RASPBERRIES.—By this date most of 
the fruits will have b^n gathered, and the 
old canes should be cut out at once to mab 
room for the young ones that will cron next 
year. Cut the old canes low down, and whei 
removing them from amongst the new oacf 
take every care not to break the letm. 
Train in only just the number of canes 
quired. If the soil between the rows ku 
become hard, slightly loosen the surface wWi 
a fork and follow on with a good mulchbjf 
of decayed manure, and give water if 
with water and put them in a cool tempera¬ 
ture for a few days preparatory to placing 
int^ lieat. Thev should not be exposed 
It is generally found desirable to flush the 
boilers at least once a year, to remove as 
much of the sediment as possible from the 
boilers and pipings. There are very few 
places where the water used for heating pur¬ 
poses is supplied from the rain water tanks; 
wherever the water holds any form of mineral 
there is settlement, which, if not removed, 
will cause rust and decay. All valves should 
be oiled and put in working order, the flues 
and chimneys swept, and the fire-bars over¬ 
hauled and replaced with new ones where 
required. It is a good plan to have a water 
ash pit, sufficiently deep to contain the ashes ^ 
and sufficient water to coyer them. This not regular intervals. .. 
only prevents clinkering, but it also IS a great well-seasoned soot prior to 
saving in fire-bars ; we find that where water ^y^tering will be of considerable benefit to 
ncl. €»■»•« TktVYiriilfMl TiarS. RS 3 . rUlC laSt .1 I -I -Tl T J. _ 1_i-T. ...... 
spiraeas are most useful subjects for winter 
decoration, and are very easily grown. 
ROMAN HYACINTHS.—A batch of these 
may now be potted, using Sin. pots, and for 
cut flowers alone a quantity may be planted 
in boxes or pans. Early varieties of narcissi 
may also be potted for Christmas decorations. 
When potted plunge them in ashes in a cold 
frame. 
VIOLETS.—Keep these free from runners 
and weeds, and frequently use the 
hoe between the plants. If the weather 
continues to be dry for a lengthened 
period they must be thoroughly soaked 
ash pits are provided the bars, as a rule, last 
out three of those where the hot, dry ashes 
are directly under the bars. 
DECIDUOUS DENDROBIUMS. — The 
carly-fiowering deciduous dendrobiums will 
have completed their season’s growth in some 
cases, and as they mature, the plants should 
be removed to a position where there is less 
moisture in the atmosphere and where they 
may have the benefit of the available light, 
only sufficient shade being necessary to pre- 
the plants, and will help to keep them free 
from red spider. It will soon be time to take 
the plants up and put them in frames, and 
the compost should be made ready for pre¬ 
paring the b^s. Chopped loam and leaf-soil 
collected straight from the woods, in equal 
parts, makes an excellent rooting medium 
for the violet. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS.—^e large-flower¬ 
ing kinds are now developin.g their flower 
buds, and if there is room on the surface 
of the pots for a little top-dressing material 
now is the time to apply it. The plants now 
are in need of abundance of water at the 
roots, and at least once a day they should 
GRAFTS.—Look carefully over trees tlut 
were grafted in the spring, and if the gnfti 
have taken and are growing apace, see tkt 
they are made secure against wind. Shortu 
them back a little if making too much head¬ 
way. Remove ties and any new shooU 
springing from the stock. Insert hods of 
apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, ek. 
now that the wood parts freely frcwn the 
bark, and let each bud be neatly bonid 
round with damp, soft raffia. Buds miT he 
placed on old trees where fresh shooto m 
wanted, but sometimes two years elapses be¬ 
fore they commence to gfrow away freelt.— 
H. Markham, Wrotham Park Gardens. 
THE KITCHEN CARDEN. 
TOMATOES.—To supply fruits 
the spring seeds should now be sown, or w- 
tings taken and struck in heat. The utm 
method is often adopted, as plants rai^ 
from cuttings are less vigorous in 
require less space than seedlings, and gene 
rally produce fruits earlier. Thr^mch poU 
are suitable for striking the 
these should be filled with a f 
loam, leaf-mould, and sand, ^ 
dustdng of bone flour added. The seed® w 
be sown in a similar kind * 
and evenly; place in gentle heat, and 
the pans with a piece of glass and 
shade until germination tak^ 
which the young plants should be 
to a light, airy position to ensure 
sturdy growth. The young seedling 
be pricked out into or into 
pots. Plants for furnishing the ^ntw^ 
ply of fruits should now rec^ye t^^^ 
notting. The most suitable pot is tne u-i 
vent actual scorching of the foliage. Itoot 
moisture should also be diminished, sufficient 
to keep the pseudo-bulbs plump is all that 
is necessary. This treatment will prevent 
.secondary growths appearing, which arc un¬ 
desirable at this season of the year, but fre- y^j,y aestructive to me duos, ami nwrec xne sjuh suvui^ 
quently occur in very early-flowenng plants. diligentlv sought after. Portions of be made very firm. The plants 
Referring to secondary growths on d^iduous among the plants are ex- be stood out in a sunny gi 
dendrobiums, I would apin point out that It ^ gj^^uld be ex- end of September they will l^ f^ 
is the usual thing in its native habitat for momina, and the insects blown with fruits. They should ^ 
Dendrobium Wardianum to produce them. - ■ .. ™ntn . 
The late Mr. Boxall, who was one of the first, 
and certainly one of the most successful, 
ccillectors of this species, told., me that he 
could rarely find a plant that had not pro¬ 
duced a young shoot of considerable length, 
and in the dormant season most of the older 
leaves had fallen from these growths, but 
as soon as the favourable season for activity 
returned, these growths immediately re¬ 
started, and developed their pseudo-bulbs in 
due course.—^H. J. Chapman, Oakwood Gar¬ 
dens. 
amined every morning, and the insects blown with iruits. iney , -^i. 3 gtioM 
into a pail of hot water. The. decorative stem, and each one 
kinds are growing freely, and must be regu- stake. Precautions ^ v- ^nd. 
larly attended to in the matter of tying and vent the plants being dama^ ^ 
stak>g. -E. Harriss, Lockinge Park _.CELERY^^riy 
Gardens. 
HARDY FRUITS. 
PEARS.—^The removal of all useless soft 
growths will require attention, taking care 
not to shorten them back too severely. Keep 
the leaders well trained and seeured to the 
well or trellis; -well feed any ti^e that is 
bearing a good crop of fruit, and insert buds 
of good varieties on young, healthy shoots 
_ that have been trained for that purpose. It 
RETARDED BULBS FOR ALTUMN AND is always well when grafting espalier trees 
WINTER FLOWTIRING.—For autumn and to lay in a few shoots for . budding should 
will require , - . . 
quire copious waterings 
weak liquid manure being 
with cl^r water. The surtax soil 
frequently stirred with » 
care being taken n^ to ••J 
by going deeply. The ? jj jJoiM 
receive the first earthing up, pg,,, »4 
bo a slight one. For Pyrto 
lars of brown paper ** 
as water can be sullied j, cletfir 
the roots, and the growths m ^ ^ y 
but in either case the -gethel 
wintci flowering r^'Wed huibs" of "varions the grafts fail to take. Some of\he small com^essrf 
kinds of liliums are indispensable. L. specie- early pears may, when ripe, be gathered and will become deform^. J, . 
sum rubrum and L. sfpeciosum 
of the most useful for this purpose. These, 
together with L. longiflorum, potted at inter¬ 
vals of two or three weeks, will provide a 
continuous di.^lay all through the late 
autumn and winter months. The bulbs may 
be grown in a high temperature if this should 
be necessary to hasten them into bloom. 
WTien well rooted a top-dressing of loam 
and welWeeayed cow manure will prove of 
great benefit to the plants. Liliums are very 
prone to attacks of aphis in all stages of 
their growth, but this can be prevented 
by light fumigations of a nicotine compound 
or spraying the foliage with an insecticide. 
Lily of the valley is always useful, and in 
order to have a continuous supply of th^^ 
beautiful flowers during the autumn and win- 
ble. Li. specio- eariy pears may, wneii ripe, ue maffffot, sQuee^ j 
album arVtwo «aten straight from the trees.yt t^ larger fesW Jith the ^he tluunt ^ 
irpose. These, hinds, such as Williams’ Bon Chretien, grub-affected parts betwwu 
Clapp’s Favourite, etc., are better when 
gathered a little under-ripe and stored for a 
few days in a cool, well ventilated fruit 
room. By gathering a few at intervals the 
season may be greatly prolonged. 
PLUMS.—Aphis has again made its ap¬ 
pearance on tW leaves, and should be dis- 
nger; frequent dnstings witn^^y^ 
s a deterrent. Before and ^ 
ing process remove all side g ^ 
^^sS^RLET RUNTTEBS.-To 
growth and heavy crops, it s “ jouslr.^ 
to feed liberally ,7**IoeV n«>« S 
lodged without delay; if the pests have he- plying water m dribblets growtlB^y 
come established, u.se a little quassia extract than good. ^j,^y sh®!^ 
and follow with clean soft water. reach-^ the top of the _ a 
APPLES.—Some of the very early varieties stopped. During hot we ^.jj 
will now be rioe and fit for dessert. Jackson overhead early in the eve ^ 
Seedling. Bed' Jnueating, Beauty of Bath, free set. Do not allow an. ^ 
and Irish Peach are amongst those to ripen ripen, but set apa” 
early, and they will prove very nsefnl where —^W. Messenoeb, Woo 
early dessert apples arc appreciated. Devon- dens. 
