Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/316

 THE GARDEN 294 As regards insect pests, the beetle and cock- roach mav be troublesome, and. if so, must be trapped, also slugs and snails if these have gained entr>'. That tiny enemy known as thrip will very' likely make its appearance in which case syringe with a sohition in which naif a pound of lime and a quarter of a pound of sulphur have been boiled in six pints of water mixed with soft- soap emulsion. The latter is made up of three-quarters of a pound of soft soap and a quarter of a pound of paraffin to four gallons of water, churned up with a syringe. If a whole house is affected with insect pests, fumiga- tion will be found the most effective remeily. Orchids are some- times attacked by disease known as " spot," which is usually caused by overheating, or some other unhealthy con- dition, such as root decay, which would show the need of fresh potting. " Scale '' is best treated by sponging leaves with the emulsion mentioned above, or with Gishurst compound. Cleanliness is the great antidote to disease in any form. Orchid pots should be scrubbed in winter, choosing a time when no fear of severe frost in the day-time prevails. As regards temperatures, that for a cool orchid- house in the winter should average by night 38° to 45", by day 45* to 50° ; summer, 60° to 75° by day, 55° to -60' by night. Mid-October to mid- April may be reckoned as winter in an orchid- house, but a change of temperature should be made gradually. Syringing the house and damping-down must be done whenever dryness of atmosphere and bright sunshine make it needful. The following is a list of some of the best. known orchids suited for a conservatory or cool greenhouse : Coelogyno cristata, Cypripedmm insigne, C. villosum, Cymballaria eburneum, Dendrobium japonicum,' D. spectabile, and many Epidendrums. Epidendrum vitehnum majus, like the beautiful Sophronitis, should be placed' in small pans_hung near the roof. Disa grandiflora, Bletia hvacinthina. Habe- It is a popular fallacy to believe that to grow orchids successfully very high temperatures arc required. Certain varieties, if treated properly, grew admirably in a cool house, of which this illustration is a charming example Orchid growing, therefore, need not be an expensive hobby. Copyright : S/itart Low naria flexuosa, many Mandevillas, Miltonia Clowesii, *Ada amantica, *Lycaste Skinneri, Pleione humilis, *Odontoglossums, such as O. crispum, O. Harryanum, O. triumphans, O. densi- florum, O. Pescatorci, O. Rossi majus, O. Barkeria, and O. andersonianum, are all plants for the cool house. Those marked with an asterisk may be used for window decoration, while Cypripedium spectabile is the outdoor orchid par excellence for growing by the water-side. The orchids above mentioned can be had at fairly moderate prices, ranging from 3s. 6d to 7s. 6d. or los. 6d. each. The amateur will very probably develop a taste for orchid - hunting at auction rooms, where sales are frequently held. AUTUMH IH THE Preparing the Soil— How to Plant OSE GARDEN r^URiNG the autumn season careful atten- tion should be paid to the requirements of the rose garden ; than the month of October and November no part of the year is more suitable for preparing the soil for rose-trees, although, if the ^veather will permit it, the process of planting may be continued until A fare h. Roses, it must be remembered, are injured by winds. The bushes, therefore, should be screened by hedges or shrubs. Roses will grow in almost any garden, but to obtain really good results it is advisable, as far as is possible, to isolate the trees and to allow no other flowers to be cultivated in their immediate xncinity. The question of drainage becomes most important when considering the rose-tree ; it is essential that the soil should be porous and warm. The best soil for the purpose is an adhesive loam, but even stiff, cold clay can be made to conform to this requirement by mixing with it lime and sand. The roots of bush-roses should be placed, when being planted, about 2 inches below the surface ; around the roots fine mould should be sprinkled, and around this the gardener should place a mixture of soil and manure (cow manure, perhaps, is the best) and then tread firmly on the soil all round. It is wise to cover the stems with straw until the danger of frosts has passed.