640 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
AirotJOT 23, 1 S 13 . 
% t 
I WORK FOR THE WEEK. % 
❖ ❖ 
THE ORCHID HOUSES. 
EPIDENDRUJM VITEIiLINUM. — The 
plants of this species, and the finer variety E. 
V. majus, will now be starting into growth, 
and will need more liberal treatnaent in re¬ 
spect to root moisture and conditions that 
will give every assistance in the development 
of growth. The plants will be found to do 
quite satisfactory in a light position of the 
cool or odontoglossum house. In respect to 
the repotting that may be necessary, this 
may be done as soon as root action com¬ 
mences about the end of the present month 
or during the first fortnight in September. 
I would particularly advise that this species 
should not be disturbed at the roots more 
frequently than is absolutely necessary. As 
long as there is ample room in the pots and 
the potting compost is in a good state of pre¬ 
servation it is not advisable to disturb them. 
It will generally be found that they suffer 
more or less from the effects of repotting, 
generally shrivelling, and it takes a season 
before they regain their normal plump state. 
When the plants are repotted the material 
used should be of a lasting nature, such as 
good fibrous peat, two parts to one of chopped 
sphagnum moss, with sufficient silver sand 
and broken crocks added to render the com¬ 
post porous. The pots or pans used should 
be clean, and at least filled to one-third their 
depth with drainage. The young or leading 
growth should be kept slightly above the 
level of the compost. Shade after repotting, 
and spray daily overhead, when the outside 
conditions permit. The variety majus blooms 
in the autumn, and the growths are more ad¬ 
vanced than the type. Immediately the 
flower spikes make their appearance close ob¬ 
servation is necessary to protect them from 
attacks of thrips and other insect pests, but 
where the plants are sprayed with some safe 
insecticide about once a fortnight, these pests 
will be keot in check. 
EISA GRANDIFLORA.—This attractive 
Cape species will now be flowering freely, and 
every care is necessary to guard the flowers 
and young growths at the base from being 
injured by thrips and greenfly. The plants 
should be carefully sprayed overhead once 
or twice daily, taking care not to wet the 
flowers after they are expanded. The repot- ^ 
ting of disas may be done immediately after 
they pass out of bloom, but here again pot¬ 
ting must not be done unless absolutely 
ne<Sssary, and when the plants need more 
root room. Larger pots may be used than 
is the case of most orchids. Where plants 
do well it is surprising the amount of root 
space they require. The compost used should 
be of a lasting nature, and made moderately 
firm and as they require libea-al watering 
at all seasons of the year, plenty of drainage 
must be given. The plants should be placed 
in a moist position where they may have 
ample light and an abundance of air at all 
seasons.—H. J. Chapman, Oakwood Gardens. 
CONSERVATORY AND GREEN¬ 
HOUSE. 
CYCLAMEN.—The pots being now full of 
roots, it will be safe to give the plants more 
liberal treatment in regard to watering and 
feeding. The stimulant should take the form 
of diluted liquid manure made from cow's or 
sheep dung, or soot-water. This may with 
advantage be supplemented occasionally with 
a little Clay's fertilizer. Keep a sharp look¬ 
out for aphis, which attacks the leaves on 
the under-side. Let the lights be entirely 
removed on warm nights. may now 
be sown for raising the early batch of 
plants. There is nothing better than shallow 
pans for this purpose, and these must ^ 
well drained. The soil must 1^ of a light 
nature, and free from insect life. Loam, 
leaf-son, and sand will form a suitable com¬ 
post, the latter constituents must be used 
in accordance with the nature of the loam. 
Place the seeds about an inch apart on the 
surface and cover lightly with finely-sifted 
soil. Afrer a thorough soaking with water 
cover the pans with a sheet of glass, and 
place them in a warm house, keeping them 
shaded till the sewings are seen. 
ARUM LILIES.—These must now be put 
into the pots in which they are to produce 
their spathes. The tubers must be carefully 
divided, keeping those together which look 
strong enough to bloom. Unl^ very large 
plants are desired. 6-inch or 7-inch pots will 
be quite large enough to use, placing one or 
two tubers in each. A compost of loam, leaf- 
soil, cow manure, and old mortar rubble will 
be suitable, and this must be in proper con¬ 
dition, so that potting may be done quite 
firmly. When potted place them on the north 
side of a wall till they have commenced to 
grow freely. Water must be applied with 
care till the pots are full of roots. On the 
approach of frost they must be placed in a 
light, airy structure. 
BOUVARDIAS.—Water to these must be 
given more freely now that The pots are 
full of roots, supplying a stimulant at 
every alternate watering. The growth must 
not be stopped after this date. Plants grow¬ 
ing in an outside border must be lifted be¬ 
fore there is any danger of frost and put into 
pots of a suitable size. Place them in a 
close frame or pit, and beep close and shaded 
till they have recovered from the check. 
ANNUALS FOR POT CULTURE.—Seeds 
of various kinds of annuals may be sown now 
for flowering in spring and early summer. 
The schizanthuses are perhaps the most popu¬ 
lar of all the annuals grown for this pur¬ 
pose, especially the Wisetonensis and Re- 
tusus strains. Clarkia elegans is also a very 
beautiful plant for the conservatory, and is 
very useful for cutting. Seeds should 
be .sown at the end of the month or early 
in September in three-inch pots. Place the 
pots in a frame, and when the seedlings make 
their appearance thin them to one or two 
plants. Maintain a steady growth in the 
frame till the approach of severe frost, and 
then place in a cool house near the glass.— 
. E. Harbiss, Lockinge Park Gardens. 
HARDY FRUITS. 
STRAWBERRIES.—Layers pegged on 
small pots, filled with suitable soil, in the be¬ 
ginning of July, will now be well rooted and 
fit for planting, and they should be set out 
as early as possible to give the plants ample 
time to develop good fruiting crowns by the 
end of the year. See that the land is in good 
heart, and made somewhat firm; a liberal 
dressing of soot well raked in will prove 
very helpful to the young plants, i^t out 
the rows two feet apart, and plant quite that 
distance in the rows if the beds are to be 
permanent. If only to fruit one year sixteen 
inches apart will be ample on warm borders. 
See that the ball of soil is thoroughly wet 
before turning them out of the pots, when 
slightly disentangle the outer roots and 
plant firmly. If the weather continues dry 
give the beds a good soaking with water to 
settle the soil, and in dry weather syringe 
well overhead on bright afternoons to en¬ 
courage a free, healthy growth. Keep the 
soil between the rows free from weeds and 
the plants from runners. Label correctly, 
and use large, stout tallies, driving them well 
into the soil to prevent them b^g shifted 
wffien working amongst the plants. 
PLUMS ON WALLS.—Train the young 
shoots thinly and evenly all over the bare 
spaces, and if this is not done shorten back 
to within a few buds the young growths 
not required. I am greatly in favour of 
training plum trees fan-shape, and each jetr 
adding a few young shoots at intervals all 
to within a few buds the young growths 
trained to the walls I mostly obtain the best 
fruits. Where the growths are too strong to 
be fruitful, take note of the trees, and root 
prune during the latter part of October, and 
in some cases a little earlier. These remarks 
will apply with equal force to other unfmit, 
ful trees. 
PEARS.—^If not already done it will be ad- 
visable to shorten the young shoots back to 
within a few buds of the base. The leaders, 
etc., if required for extension, can be 
left at their full length. Although most of 
the trees are very lightly cropped, do not 
neglect the roots, especially surface rooting, 
feed liberally if the land is poor, and the 
growths weak. I strongly advise this treat¬ 
ment, so that the buds forming may be 
strengthened. Soak thoroughly the roots 
of all trees bearing good crops. We hare 
thoroughly watered all our bush trees three 
time, the soil being Ught. Keep the surface 
between all fruit trees thoroughly hoed and 
free from weeds, and remove all suckers 
springing np. It will also be well to sw that 
the ties of young trees are not so tight m 
to injure the bark, also the suspended labels 
which may have been fixed with wire. 
WASPS.—Should these pests become trou¬ 
blesome, look out for the nests and destroy 
them. One of the quickest ways is to 
a pint of tar into the entpnce of the nest, 
and place a good turf over it.—H. Mabkham, 
Wrotham Park, Barnet. 
THE KITCHEN CARDEN. 
SPINACH.—To ensure a good supply « 
this useful vegetable all 
at least two sowings should be made. ’^1 
necessary in case the earlier sowing ruiw w 
seed before the early spring-sown spinart 
comes into use. For the early sowing it w 
somewhat difficult to advise 
much depending upon the 
racter of the soil of the garden. I . 
iority of cases the first sowing “ ““ 
at once, successive sowings (if 
are required) at intervals of a 
this crop the soil should ^ dressinf 
tion. and should Jave a ^ 
of soot and freshly-slaked 
raked in with a wooden rak^ H the s 
the dry side, give it a g^ >^ate 
when in a suitable j^av now be 
drawn a;bout 14dn. apart. Land y ^ 
prepared for later sowings, fo . . 
’bS **'3 
from corn-fed horses ^ jt is 
this is not always available arable 
sary to make use of ijial can te 
If the necessary amount of m 
quickly collected it ^^ould ^ 
out for a few days to ^ ^ turB<^ 
thrown into a heap, which 
over several times until the 
decline. When maki^ 1 firmly ** 
manure should be put 
possible. Examine the 
ttS heat has declined to the 
the spawn may be wh of 
covered with loamy sod rapidl.^’ 
inches. If the heat declines f^jabieW^ 
the beds with a good tfi>ctae^ f ^ 
The temperature of the l*®"“Aagc3 » 
at about 60 degrees. ’?^"^Quantity ''*iJ 
possible to secure “ 2 half b**.* 
t^fore advisable to “a’^^^lt^ial 
preference to having y.«,]t)ly beco®**^ 
about too long, and most p 
sour and mouldy. , «^lad, nm^^^ 
SALADING.-Weds of be 
and cress, and 
weekly, first with nia‘® ^ 
soil if dry; cover *^®^ch«rvil is » V 
germination takes place, and * j 
much iu. demand i“ 
may now be so^ on a ^ ^ 
being kept moist. It ^ very 
brolcast or in pSrk «*** 
W. Messenger, Woolverstone 
