71G 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
September 2r», \ m . 
I WORK FOR THE WEEK. I 
t t 
••• •> •> •> <• •> 
THE ORCHID HOUSES. 
MASDEVALLIAS. — The large-flowering 
masdevallias, such as M. coccinea, M. ignea, 
M. Veitchi, and the thick-leaved section, to 
which M. gargantea and M. leontoglossa be- 
loKg, may now be repotted if necessary. When 
plants have grown into large specimens it 
is undesirable to disturb them more fre¬ 
quently than is absolutely necessary, but all 
should be thoroughly examined at this season 
of the year. Decaying material and dead 
leaf bracts should be carefully removed, and 
where the potting compost has become sour 
on tjie surface, fresh material should be 
given. Plants that have become hollow in 
the centre from loss of leaves should be care¬ 
fully turned out of their pots and divided, 
and after the potting compost has been re¬ 
moved the divided portions be placed in the 
centre of suitable-sized, well-drained pots 
or pans, arranging them to the best advan¬ 
tage. Good fibrous peat and chopped sphag¬ 
num, with plenty of finely broken crocks and 
sand intermixed, form the best compost for 
masdevallias. This should be pressed mode¬ 
rately firm about' the base of the plants, and 
slightly mounded to the centre. By keeping 
the leaf base above the surface of the com¬ 
post tbere is less danger fromi damping and 
decay during the winter months. If a house 
has a north aspect, little or no shading will 
be required after this note appears, bub with 
brighter positions all freshly-potted plants 
must be shaded with discretion until 
roots have established themselves in the new 
compost. 
SEEDLING CYPRIPEDIUAIS.—There are 
no plants that make greater progress than 
seedling cypripediums during the late sum¬ 
mer and autumn months, and after a pro¬ 
long^ period of excessively dry atmosphere 
outside, the small seedlings seem to be mak¬ 
ing unusual progress since the moister and 
cooler conditions have set in. As the small 
plants produce roots when the first and second 
leaf is being made, it is desirable to transfer 
as many as possible into single or store pots 
as soon as the work in the cooler houses per¬ 
mits, The stronger plants should be removed 
to larger pots as their needs demand. It 
is not advisable to delay potting, as there 
is nothing retards young plants o| cypripe¬ 
diums more than the want of rooting space. 
As larger pots ar>e needed a coarser potting 
compost should be used. For all but the 
tessellated-leaved section some fibrous, turfy 
loam should be added, with ample sand to 
keep the compost porous. Close observation 
must be kept for thrips, and it is a good plan 
to spray with some safe insecticide about 
once" a week at this season of the year.— 
H. J. Chapman, Oakwocd Gardens. 
CONSERVATORY AND GREEN¬ 
HOUSE. 
FUCHSIAS.—Few plants are more useful 
for the greenhouse or conservatory than the 
fuchsia. Whether grown as specimens, or 
trained under the roof of the greenhouse, 
or other low structure, they invariably 
attract much attention. Nowhere is the 
fuchsia seen to greater advantage than in the 
latter position, and when once established 
in a restricted border the plants will last 
for years with little trouble beyond prun¬ 
ing and cleaning annually. To obtain really 
fine examples for flowering next year, cuttings 
should be inserted in the autumn and grown 
on in a steady temperature through the win¬ 
ter, eventually planting them out in the 
spring. The cuttings which are most suit¬ 
able are those which are free from flower 
buds, and have been fully exposed to light 
and air; and if they can be taken off with 
a heel 'of harder wood attached to them 
they will root more readily. Insert the cut¬ 
tings near the sides of 5-inch pots, and 
wheji sufficiently well rooted, and grow them 
near the glass in a temperature of 55 or 
60 degrees. This treatm;ent is also suitable 
for specimens. 
MALMAISON CARNATIONS.—The layers 
which were rooted early in August, and 
were potted and placed closely togetlier 
in cold frames, will now be freely established 
in their pots. They must be placed near to 
the glass in a light, airy structure, as the 
damp conditions of cold frames are favour¬ 
able to the development of the rust. They 
must not, however, by any means be coddled^ 
therefore keep the ventilators wide open at 
all times till there is danger of very severe 
frost. Supply water to all Malmaisons with 
great care, and keep the atmosphere as dry 
as possible. Do not shade them after this 
date, and do everything possible to encou¬ 
rage strong, sturdy growth. 
PERPETUAL - FLOWERING CARNA¬ 
TIONS.—The most forward of these which 
are coming into flower may be given plenty 
of stimulapts. Give them abundance of fresh 
air as long as the outside conditions will 
allow, and do not unduly crowd them, as 
this encourages attacks of rust, besides caus- 
ing a general weakening of the entire stock. 
If strong, healthy grass is available a batch 
of cuttings may now be inserted. 
BULBS.—As soon as the main batch of 
bulbs has arrived from the nurseryman lose 
no time in potting them up. The latest 
batches may be plunged in ashes in the open. 
Lilium Harrisi and Lilium longiflorum may 
be potted singly in 32-pots and placed closely 
together in cold frames. Cover the bulbs 
with fibre until growth has commenced; they 
may then be brought indoors and placed on 
a shelf near the glass.—E. Habriss, Lockinge 
Park Gardens. 
HARDY FRUITS. 
BUSH APPLES.—The crops of fruit on 
most bush trees is heavy, and this, coupled 
with the long spell of drought, will make it 
nece9:jary to give the trees every attention 
at the roots to assist the formation of strong, 
plump buds for the production of next sea¬ 
son s crop. Our trees growing on a rather 
shallow soil have,. during the past two 
months, received thorough soakings of 
liquid manure, and will be given at least two 
more. These remarks apply also to other 
kinds of fruit trees in need of help, especially, 
cordon pears with roots near the surface. 
The practice of feeding early in autumn 
cannot, I think, be too strongly recommended 
where the soil is light and the crops heavy. 
MORELLO CHERRIES.—Most of the 
fruits will by this date have been gathered; 
the crops at Wrotbam have been very sati3- 
factory, and the trees will now have all useless 
wood out out. The roots will then be ex¬ 
amined, and, if needed, a good top-dressing 
of suitable compost will be applied early. 
Mcrello cherries should be very thinlv 
trained, so that light and air may reach all 
parts of the shoots and assist the 
harden by the end of the season. Should the 
trees be inf ested- with •i.searle f or o^eTt in^t 
p^ts give them a thorough washing with a 
nicotine solution. 
FRUIT GATHERING.—This highly im¬ 
portant matter will need daily attention, and 
should have precedence of other work. 
Apples are best stored in a cool, sweet, well- 
ventilated room, and should be gathered 
when dry and not bruised. Cox’s Orange 
Pippin and other very choice dessert varie¬ 
ties <sihould be ,gather^, as they come to ma¬ 
turity. All very late-keeping kinds should 
be allowed to remain on the trees until the 
seeds h^ve changed to a dark brown colour ; 
otherwise the fruits will not keep well. 
With us Bramley’s Seedling, Lane’s Pritt« 
Albert, Old W inter Nonsuch, and Gooseb^ 
apple are the be^t for late supplier. TW 
latbei is an excellent old variety, but not 
extensively called for as it was miar 
years ago. Carefully look over the |>e«r tre^' 
and gather all the fruits as soon as they ar? 
fit; remove them with care, and place tlif« 
carefully on the shelves where they aie u 
remain until ripe. A few may be Lasttwf^ 
along if required by placing the fruits n 
boxes and standing the boxes in a war» 
place. 
GRAFTS.—If not already done, si>!m d 
the largest shoots may be .shortened a littW 
and others made secure to light canes fai^ 
tened to the stems of the trees or branch^ 
on which they have been worked, to prmtt 
injury by winds.—H. Markham, Wrothui 
Park Gardens. 
THE KITCHEN CARDEN. 
CARDOONS.—During dry weather tbea 
plants will require a plentilul supply of mcii* 
ture at the roots, clear water and liqni 
manure being alternately afforded, and tW 
soil is thoroughly moistened to a fooi 
depth. Tying up the plants to blanch alwiM 
be done on a dry day, and the operatMi 
should not be long delayed. Bind each plait 
with hay-bands, after drawing the kiwi 
straight, and follow this by earthing up tk 
stalks with fine soil. 
FRENCH BEANS.—A good sowing 
now be made in 9dn. pots of No Plus ritia. 
Masterpiece, or Osborne’s Forcing, usiig i 
loamy soil and spent mushroom miw 
thoroughly well mixed. Sow half a down sw 
in a pot. A cool pit or frame will suit tkj 
sowing for the present; if forc^ tw Mrt 
in the early stage, growth will ^ thia ui 
weak. Plants in bearing should ^ 
usable pods removed as soon as tney 
fit to gather. . . 
CELERY.—AVhere the rainfall 
slight, and not suflicient to th^ 
good applications of water will be n«w*^ 
Swng wro not to wash the ^>1 
hearts of the plants. Celery 
late in October should t>e .nioiil^ V ^ 
last time if the crop is sulBcie^ 
vaneed, otherwise the operation shouW 
deferred, as the 
somewhat arrests growth. 
up the crops when the stalks a . 
dry and the heart-leaves are a fe» 
of the soil. gooi 
TOMATOES.—Gather tk<« 
as they are slightly coloured, 
thinly in a vinery to 
growth should be remov^ f 
Indthe fruits fully the anttW 
to^ prepared for the ** 
should be placed ^f/'^^etuie shorf 
few weeks the air of the 'struct ^ 
kept in a genial, buoyant s _ 
ni|ht. The amount of 
be enough and no more; 
carrying a go^ iL benehcial. 
amouu-t of feeding v^U ^ ^ ^ 
BEET.-Some roots <rf t^ jh* 
may be taken up fortni***' 
lot need not be aW 
weeks. ''^ lifted i® H 
expected the c^,?|^"^ttine the eiovN 
time and pitted. ^ soun<i Jroots^ 
po&si'ble to have 'preferably 
the end of next May. Trei^^ 
barvowioad should ^ taking. 
larger pits are j* adniitt<^j 
for immediate sh-jM ^ 
growths* induced. bnilt up 
in a circle, tops of 
wise; cover with a '“rti., add th^ 
clean straw litter and 6^^ 
four inches of soil, w advaa^^ 
GENERAL WORK —^ 
wet days to rope the iR 
potatoes, tie burning 
Si kinds of J 
smother fire. ^’^^Vions shouW 
pceted, and as 
fford protection 
subjects w ®^,.!k^^ardcns. 
Woolverstone Park uaru 
