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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER  February  7,  1901. 
Seasonable  Work  in  Plant  Houses. 
While  the  wind  is  howling,  and  the  rain  coming  down  in  torrents 
in  the  open  air,  the  plant  grower  is  contented  and  happy  in  the 
genial  atmosphere  of  some  glass  structure.  All  seasons  of  the  year 
are  busy  times  for  the  plant  grower,  as  there  are  a  thousand  little 
attentions  which,  if  given  to  plants  at  odd  times,  will  bring  improved 
results.  A  little  extra  feeding  here,  repotting  there,  thinning-out 
growths,  or  tying-out  shoots  are  items  of  daily  work  with  the  well 
trained  hand.  When  February  comes  in,  however,  work  presses  in 
all  directions,  and  in  some  instances  we  have  to  give  certain  plants 
the  one  thorough  overhauling  they  receive  during  the  year. 
In  plant  stoves,  unfortunately,  mealy  bug  and  brown  scale  are 
ever  present  to  some  extent ;  but  much  can  be  done  at  the  present 
time  to  keep  them  in  check  by  cleansing  plants  thoroughly  before 
much  young  growth  has  been  made.  In  some  instances,  the  tedious 
practice  of  hand  sponging  is  necessary  ;  but  fortunately,  by  the  aid 
of  the  fine  insecticides  now  at  command,  we  may  destroy  nearly  all 
insects  by  the  simple  process  of  dipping  the  plants.  At  various  times 
I  have  tried  all  the  best  insecticides  now  so  largely  advertised,  aod 
with  few  exceptions  I  have  found,  if  properly  used,  they  have  all 
the  merits  the  vendors  claim  tor  them.  They  ought  always  to  be 
u-ed  when  first  tested  according  to  the  directions  supplied  with 
them,  and  then,  if  not  thoroughly  efficacious  in  destroying  insect 
life,  the  strength  should  be  gradually  increased — provided  the  plants 
have  not  been  injured — till  the  desired  results  are  obtained. 
I  have  invariably  found  that  all  insecticides  may  with  safety  be 
used  at  a  greater  strength  than  recommended,  and  this  is  undoubtedly 
a  wise  precaution  on  the  part  of  the  manufacturer.  In  all  instances, 
however,  a  few  plants  should  be  tested  by  mixing  the  insecticides  at 
the  ordinary  strength  before  giving  stronger  doses.  Such  a  course  is 
a  safe  one  to  pursue,  and  soon  teaches  the  operator  the  exact,  strength 
at  which  it  is  the  most  effectual,  yet  safe.  After  plants  have  been 
cleaned  and  houses  washed  a  good  deal  of  potting  may  at  once  be 
done,  but  in  conjunction  with  the  cleaning  process  the  work  of  pruning 
such  plantB  and  creepers  as  need  it  should  be  performed. 
AUamanda  Hendersoni  is  still  as  popular  as  ever  for  training  thinly 
•over  the  roof  of  a  stove,  and  if  the  roots  are  confined  to  a  pot  or 
border  it  can  be  so  managed  as  to  obstruct  the  light  but  little  during 
the  winter.  It  is,  I  know,  customary  with  some  cultivators  to  give 
water  enough  to  retain  the  leaves  throughout  the  winter,  and  good 
results  are  obtained  by  the  practice  ;  but  seeing  that  equally  good,  and 
in  some  cases  better,  results  may  be  secured  by  keeping  the  plants 
dust-dry  in  winter,  so  as  to  cause  them  to  shed  their  leaves,  that  is 
the  practice  I  prefer,  as  it  is  advantageous  to  the  other  occupants  of 
the  house.  Under  such  treatment  the  wood  becomes  thoroughly 
ripened,  and  the  shoots,  if  pruned  back  to  two  or  three  eyes,  quickly 
send  out  p'enty  of  young  growths  under  the  influence  of  a  genial 
atmosphere  and  a  gradually  increasing  supply  of  moisture  at 
the  roots. 
Stephanotis  floribunda  seems  quite  as  popular  as  of  yore,  and  is 
usually  trained  thinly  to  wires,  where  it  is  necessary  to  restrict  growth 
to  prevent  it  from  forming  too  dense  a  shade  for  the  plants  beneath. 
Under  such  circumstances  it  is  a  good  plan  to  keep  the  plants  dry  at 
the  root  for  a  couple  of  months  during  winter,  and  at  the* present  time 
to  cut  back  all  weak  growths  to  within  two  or  three  buds  of  their 
base.  Wires  covered  with  a  number  of  short  6tubby  shoots  will 
produce  a  great  number  of  flowers  in  due  time.  A  freer  method  of 
training  will,  however,  give  still  better  results,  and  should  be  adopted 
when  practicable.  Plants  treated  thus  should  be  kept  less  dry  at  the 
roots  durii  g  winter,  and  at  pruning  time  only  the  unripened  parts  of 
shoots  and  old  wood  be  cut  away  ;  clusters  of  flowers  may  then  be 
obtained  along  the  whole  length  of  the  shoots  retained.  By  removing 
an  inch  or  two  of  the  surface  soil,  top-dressing  with  good  turfy  loam 
and  cow  manure,  and  throughout  the  growing  season  feeding  liberally 
with  liquid  manure,  and  top-dressing  with  chemical  fertilisers,  the 
plants  are  kept  in  exuberant  health;  and  such  treatment  suits 
Allamandas  too. 
Crotons  which  have  become  too  “leggy”  may  also  be  cut  back 
severely  now,  as  the  tops  form  fine  plants  quickly  at  this  season  if 
inserted  in  bottles  of  water  or  in  soil  where  there  is  plenty  of  bottom 
heat.  Dracaenas  of  all  kinds  may  also  be  rooted  freely  in  water,  or  by 
notching  and  placing  moss  round  them.  They  root  so  freely  and 
surely  under  such  treatment  that,  except  in  the  case  of  very  large 
heads,  there  seems  to  be  no  necessity  to  practise  the  more  troublesome 
plan  of  dividing  a  small  pot,  fixing  it  securely  round  the  plant,  and 
then  filling  it  with  soil,  in  order  to  get  the  top  rooted  before  it  is 
severed  from  the  parent  plant.  I  purpose  to  continue  these  notes  in 
an  early  issue. — H.  D. 
Pancratium  fragrans. 
The  accompanying  photographic  reproduction  represents  three  plants 
of  Pancratium  fragrans,  two  of  which  stand  on  a  hand-barrow  that  is 
6  feet  long  and  2^  feet  wide,  which  will  convey  an  idea  of  their  size. 
We  grow  a  number  of  Pancratiums,  as  their  beautiful  white  flowers 
produced  in  large  clusters,  rising  well  above  the  broad,  handsome 
foliage,  are  always  admired  by  people  looking  through  the  houses  during 
October — the  month  we  get  them  in  flower.  They  are,  too,  exceedingly 
useful  for  cutting,  and  using  in  large  vases  with  suitable  foliage,  while 
for  wreath  and  bouquet  making  they  are  indispensable,  if  carefully 
handled.  Grown  in  small  pots  they  are  admirably  adapted  for  house- 
plants  during  the  time  they  are  in  full  beauty,  the  fragrance  being 
delicious.  ■» 
The  place  that  we  find  suits  them  best  is  on  a  large  centre  bed  in 
an  intermediate  house,  with  a  temperature  of  about  50°  during  the 
winter,  where  they  stand  the  year  round.  The  treatment  we  give 
them  differs  from  that  of  many  growers,  as  the  plants  are  never  allowed 
to  become  dry  at  the  roots,  but  are  kept  well  supplied  with  water, 
summer  and  winter.  The  plants  in  the  photograph  were  potted  four 
years  ago  in  a  compost  consisting  chiefly  of  rich,  fibrous  loam,  with  a 
sprinkling  of  bonemeal.  Good  drainage  was  formed,  with  the  result 
that  they  have  not  been  disturbed  since,  but  are  liberally  watered  with 
liquid  manure  and  soot  water  twice  a  week.  Many  of  the  bulbs  are 
upwards  of  17  inches  in  circumference,  with  leaves  more  than  a  yard 
in  length.  During  the  summer  months  they  are  shaded  from  the  bright 
sun  and  syringed  morning  and  afternoon.  Thrips  is  sometimes  trouble¬ 
some,  and  if  not  kept  down  will  soon  disfigure  the  handsome  foliage; 
sponging  with  softsoap  and  water  will  keep  the  pest  in  check.  The 
photograph  was  taken  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Webster,  Taplow. — J.  B.,  Bucks. 
Chelsea  Physic  Garden. 
Asa  connecting  link  between  the  past  and  the  future,  pertaining  to 
the  science  pf  medicinal  botany,  no  more  fitting  subject  for  reference,  by 
way  of  inaugurating  the  new  century  from  a  horticultural  point  of  view, 
can  be  found  than  the  historic  Physic  Garden  at  Chelsea,  and  of  which, 
e/i  passant,  it  may  be  remarked,  reference  on  more  than  one  occasion 
has  appeared  in  the  pages  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture.  An  addi¬ 
tional  record  of  the  unique  old  establishment  may  not,  however,  be 
considered  out  of  place,  and  which  I  quote  from  a  contemporary  pub¬ 
lished  forty  years  ago  as  follows  : — 
“  The  Botanic  Garden,  Chelsea. — The  Chelsea  Garden  was  founded 
by  the  Apothecaries’  Company  in  1673,  though  the  inscription  over  the 
gateway  bears  the  date  of  1686.  The  truth  is,  that  it  was  not  until  the 
year  last  named  that  the  garden  was  effectually  arranged.  For  when 
first  commenced,  the  company  bad  no  funds  disposable,  and  for  the 
purpose,  as  well  as  to  re-erect  their  hall  destroyed  in  the  great  fire  of 
1666,  they  were  obliged  to  have  recourse  to  the  private  liberality  of 
their  members.  This  conduct  is  recorded  to  the  honour  of  the  company, 
for  the  outlay  upon  the  garden  was  solely  for  the  promotion  of  science. 
“This  garden  was  rendered  permanent  by  Sir  Hans  Sloane  in  1721. 
Having  purchased  the  Manor  of  Chelsea,  he  gave  the  company  the  site 
of  the  garden,  a  freehold  of  4  acres,  on  condition  that  the  demonstrator 
of  the  garden  should  deliver  annually,  in  their  name,  to  the  Royal 
Society  fifty  new  species  of  plants,  until  the  number  so  delivered 
amounted  to  2000.  This  presentation  of  plants  commenced  in  1722, 
and  continued  until  1773,  when  2550  species  had  been  delivered.  In 
1677  Richard  Piggott  was  curator  at  an  annual  salary  of  £30  and  his 
lodging,  and  the  garden  under  his  care  was  well  planted  with  fruit  trees 
and  medicinal  herbs.  In  1680  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  John  Watts, 
with  a  slight  increase  of  salary.  A  greenhouse  was  erected  the  year 
following,  but  he  neglected  his  charge,  and  was  removed.  Mr.  Doody, 
the  cryptogamist,  was  his  successor.  Petiver,  Miller,  Forsyth,  and 
Curtis,  in  succession,  had  care  of  the  garden,  and  increased  its  utility. 
In  1814  died  Mr.  Fairburn,  who  had  been  its  curator  for  thirty  years, 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  William  Anderson,  whose  decease  in 
October,  1846,  made  a  vacancy  for  Mr.  Fortune.  He  had  £100  a  year 
salary  and  apartments,  and  effected  several  excellent  improvements,  but 
shortly  resigned  on  his  appointment  to  the  Chinese  Mission  to  the 
present  much  respected  curator,  Mr.  Moore.” — G. 
Insects  and  the  Colours  of  Flowers. — It  has  been  asserted 
that  insects  are  particularly  attracted  by  the  colour  of  certain  flowers. 
Felix  Plateau,  after  investigating  the  conduct  of  insects  in  their  visits 
to  various  flowers,  concludes  that  while  they  may  perceive  oolours  and 
thus  be  enabled  to  distinguish,  at  a  distance,  between  flowers  and 
leaves,  yet  they  show  no  preferences  among  the  different  colours. 
Blue,  red,  yellow,  white  are  indifferent  to  them.  He  thinks  that  the- 
odour  of  flowers  affects  insects  more  than  their  colours  do. 
